TOLERANCE ADJUSTMENT DEVICE

Abstract

The present invention relates to a tolerance adjustment device (100), comprising a housing (204), a fastener (202) and a centering structure (201). The housing (204) is a vertically traversing cylindrical body and comprises an inlet (243) and an outlet (244) which are opposite to each other, and the housing (204) defines a channel (245). The fastener (202) is disposed partially in the channel (245). The centering structure (201) is cooperatively connected to the fastener (202) and the housing (204) such that the fastener (202) is axially movable back and forth in the channel (245) and the fastener (202) is held substantially on a central axis of the housing (204). Abstract Figure: Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: TOLERANCE ADJUSTMENT DEVICE Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a tolerance adjustment device, and in particular to a tolerance adjustment device for a hidden vehicle door handle. BACKGROUND

[0002] With the development of society and the improvement of people's living standards, electric vehicles have become indispensable vehicles for people's daily travel, and a hidden vehicle door handle is a characteristic product of electric vehicle intelligence.

[0003] The hidden vehicle door handle needs to be aligned with an outer sheet metal outside a vehicle door to give a vehicle a good appearance. In operation, an outer portion of the hidden vehicle door handle passes through the outer sheet metal, and then a base of the hidden vehicle door handle is attached to an inner sheet metal inside the vehicle door. The inner sheet metal is usually welded to the inside of the vehicle door. Since it is difficult for a welding process to ensure the accuracy of an installation dimension of the inner sheet metal inside the vehicle door, there may be a gap area difference between the hidden vehicle door handle attached to the inner sheet metal and the outer sheet metal.Currently, a common solution to make the hidden vehicle door handle flush with the outer sheet metal is to adjust, using a tolerance adjuster, an installation dimensional error caused by the welding of the inner sheet metal, so that the hidden vehicle door handle is flush with the outer sheet metal of the vehicle door. If the tolerance adjuster is not used, it is necessary to check the gap surface difference between the hidden vehicle door handle and the outer sheet metal several times during assembly, which is a significant waste of assembly time.

[0004] The tolerance adjustment device comprises a housing and a fixing portion mounted in the housing, the housing is mounted on the base of the hidden vehicle door handle and extends from the base toward the inner sheet metal inside the vehicle door for a certain distance, and the fixing portion extends from the inside of the housing toward the inner sheet metal to be mounted on the inner sheet metal. When the housing is mounted on the base of the hidden vehicle door handle and the fixing portion is mounted on the inner sheet metal, the housing abuts against the inner sheet metal. In other words, the tolerance adjustment device is connected between the inner sheet metal and the base of the hidden vehicle door handle, and the distance that the housing of the tolerance adjustment device extends from the base to the inner sheet metal inside the vehicle door is used to adjust the gap area difference between the hidden vehicle door handle and the outer sheet metal so that the hidden vehicle door handle is aligned with the outer sheet metal. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present invention relates to a tolerance adjustment device for easily and reliably mounting a hidden vehicle door handle to an interior sheet metal inside a vehicle door such that the hidden vehicle door handle is flush with an exterior sheet metal.

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, the present invention relates to a tolerance adjustment device, comprising a housing, a fastener and a centering structure. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the housing is a cylindrical through-body and comprises an inlet and an outlet opposite to each other, and the housing forms a channel. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the housing is a cylindrical through-body vertically and comprises an inlet and an outlet opposite to each other, and the housing forms a channel. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the fastener is disposed partially in the channel. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the centering structure is cooperatively connected to the fastener and the housing such that the fastener is axially movable back and forth in the channel and the fastener is held substantially on a central axis of the housing.

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, the centering structure comprises a first engagement portion, a second engagement portion, and a plurality of ribs. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the first engagement portion is configured to be removably engaged with the housing. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the second engagement portion is configured to be engaged with the fastener. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of ribs extend between the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion and are spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction.

[0008] According to one aspect of the present invention, the plurality of ribs extends spirally between the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion.

[0009] According to one aspect of the present invention, the plurality of ribs are elastic members. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the elastic members are configured to be deformable so that the fastener is movable. axially back and forth in the channel and the fastener is held substantially on the central axis of the housing.

[0010] According to one aspect of the present invention, the plurality of ribs are arranged symmetrically in a circumferential direction.

[0011] According to one aspect of the present invention, the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion of the centering structure are disposed coaxially with the housing.

[0012] According to one aspect of the present invention, the size of the first engaging portion is not less than the size of the second engaging portion.

[0013] According to one aspect of the present invention, the fastener comprises a head, a flange, and a fastening portion. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the head and the fastening portion are axially connected, and the flange is disposed at a meeting position between the head and the fastening portion and extends in a radial direction. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the centering structure and the fastener are configured such that: the second engagement portion of the centering structure is engaged with the head of the fastener to prevent the head from moving relative to the second engagement portion in the radial direction.According to one embodiment of the present invention, the centering structure and the fastener are also configured such that: the elastic element of the centering structure is compressed so that the second engagement portion of the centering structure abuts the flange of the fastener to prevent the fastener from being axially disengaged from the socket of the housing.

[0014] According to one aspect of the present invention, the head of the fastener is cylindrical, and the second engaging portion of the centering structure is an annular cylinder. According to one aspect of the present invention, the second engaging portion covers a portion of the head to prevent the second engaging portion from being disengaged from the head engagement.

[0015] According to one aspect of the present invention, the first engaging portion of the centering structure is mounted at the inlet. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the head and flange of the fastener are disposed within the housing, and the fastening portion of the fastener extends outwardly of the housing from the outlet.

[0016] According to one aspect of the present invention, the tolerance adjustment device further comprises a support member mounted at the outlet of the housing and configured to support the fastener.

[0017] According to one aspect of the present invention, the support member comprises an opening aligned with the outlet. According to one aspect of the present invention, the inner diameters of the opening and the outlet are greater than an outer diameter of the fixing portion of the fastener, such that the fastener can move in a radial direction. According to one aspect of the present invention, the flange of the fastener is disposed on the support member and the fixing portion of the fastener extends outwardly of the housing from the opening.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the invention, the support member comprises an opening aligned with the outlet, and the inner diameters of the opening and the outlet are greater than an outer diameter of the fastening portion of the fastener so that the fastener can move in the radial direction; and

[0019] the flange of the fastener is disposed on the support member, and the fastening portion of the fastener extends outwardly of the housing from the opening.

[0020] According to one aspect of the present invention, the tolerance adjustment device is configured such that: an outer wall of the housing is mounted on a base of a hidden vehicle door handle at a predetermined axial position thereof and the attachment is attached to a vehicle interior panel such that the hidden vehicle door handle is mounted on the vehicle interior panel.

[0021] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the tolerance adjustment device is also configured such that the fastener is attached to a vehicle interior panel such that the hidden vehicle door handle is mounted to the vehicle interior panel. Brief description of the drawings

[0022] The accompanying drawings are not drawn to scale. In the accompanying drawings, each identical or nearly identical component designated in the different figures is designated by the same reference sign. For reasons of clarity, each component cannot be labeled in each figure. In the figures:

[0023] [Fig.1A] is a structural block diagram of a tolerance adjustment device used for mounting a hidden vehicle door handle on a vehicle panel according to the present invention;

[0024] [Fig.lB] is a front view of [Fig.lA];

[0025] [Fig.lC] is an exploded view of [Fig.lA];

[0026] [Fig.2] is an exploded view of the tolerance adjustment device;

[0027] [Fig.3] is a cross-sectional view of the tolerance adjustment device in an assembled state;

[0028] [Fig.4A] is a schematic cross-sectional view of the panel-mounted hidden vehicle door handle according to one embodiment of the present invention; and

[0029] [Fig.4B] is a schematic cross-sectional view of the panel-mounted hidden vehicle door handle according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0031] Various specific embodiments of the present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the drawings which are part of this specification. It is understood that although terms indicating orientations, such as "front", "rear", "top", "bottom", "left", "right", "upper", and "lower", are used in the present invention to describe structural parts in various examples of the present invention, these terms are used herein for illustration purposes only and are determined based on the exemplary orientations as shown in the accompanying drawings. Since the arrangements in the embodiments described in the present inventions may be arranged in different directions, these terms indicating directions are illustrative only and should not be considered as limitations.

[0032] Order numbers such as "first" and "second" used in the present invention are used only for distinction and identification, and have no other meaning. Unless otherwise indicated, order numbers do not indicate a specific order or a specific relevance.

[0033] [Fig. 1A] is a structural block diagram of a tolerance adjustment device used for mounting a hidden vehicle door handle of a vehicle on a vehicle panel according to the present invention, to illustrate a positional relationship and a cooperative relationship between the tolerance adjustment device and the hidden vehicle door handle and the vehicle panel. [Fig. 1B] is a front view of [Fig. 1A] and [Fig. 1C] is an exploded view of [Fig. 1A].

[0034] As shown in Figures 1A to 1C, a base 101 of the hidden vehicle door handle of the vehicle is mounted to a panel 102 of the vehicle by means of a tolerance adjustment device 100. In one embodiment, the panel 102 is an interior sheet metal of the vehicle. The figures illustrate a portion of the base 101 of the hidden vehicle door handle of the vehicle and a portion of the interior sheet metal 102 of the vehicle.

[0035] The tolerance adjustment device 100 comprises a housing 204 and a fastener 202. The base 101 of the hidden vehicle door handle of the vehicle comprises a main body plate 112, and the main body plate 112 is provided with a flange 111 and an opening 113 passing through the flange. The flange 111 extends upward from the main body plate 112 in a circumferential direction of the opening 113. The flange 111 is annular. The opening 113 passes through the flange 111. In one embodiment, the base 101 is formed integrally. In other embodiments, the base 101 comprises other suitable structures.

[0036] The tolerance adjustment device 100 is mounted in the base 101 of the hidden vehicle door handle of the vehicle via the housing 204. In one embodiment, the exterior of the housing 204 of the tolerance adjustment device 100 is provided with external threads, and the interior of the opening 113 and the flange 111 of the base 101 of the hidden vehicle door handle are provided with internal threads that correspond to the external threads of the housing 204. With the aforementioned external and internal threads, the tolerance adjustment device 100 can be screwed into the base 101 of the hidden vehicle door handle.

[0037] The housing 204 of the tolerance adjustment device 100 is a vertically passing cylindrical body and includes an inlet 243 and an outlet 244 opposite each other. The fastener 202 extends out of the housing 204 from the outlet 244. The panel 102 includes a main body plate 121, and the main body plate 121 is provided with a flange 123 and an opening 122 passing through the flange. The flange 123 extends downward from the main body plate 121 in a circumferential direction of the opening 122. The flange 123 is annular. The opening 122 passes through the flange 123. In one embodiment, the panel 102 is integrally formed.

[0038] The fastener 202 extending out of the housing 204 is configured to secure into the panel 102. In one embodiment, the fastener 202 is an externally threaded screw. The interior of the opening 122 and the flange 123 of the panel 102 are provided with internal threads that correspond to the external threads of the fastener 202. With the external threads and the internal threads, the fastener 202 of the tolerance adjuster 100 can be screwed into the panel 102. In one embodiment, a tool (not shown) passes through the inlet 243 of the housing 204 to engage a head 221 of the fastener 202 (see [Fig. 2]). When the fastener 202 is aligned or approximately aligned with the opening 122 of the panel 102, the tool is rotated to secure the fastener 202 of the tolerance adjuster 100 in the opening 122 of the panel 102.When a lower surface of the housing 204 of the tolerance adjustment device 100 is in contact with an upper surface of the main body plate 121 of the panel 102, the tolerance adjustment device 100 is mounted in place on the panel 102.

[0039] The tolerance adjustment device 100 is mounted via its housing 204 on the base 101 of the hidden vehicle door handle, and the tolerance adjustment device 100 is mounted via its attachment 202 on the panel 102, so that the tolerance adjustment device 100 can install the base 101 of the hidden vehicle door handle on the panel 102. Since the tolerance adjustment device 100 can be mounted on the main body plate 112 of the base 101 of the hidden vehicle door handle at a predetermined position (e.g., a predetermined longitudinal position) of its housing 204, and the tolerance adjustment device 100 is engaged with the upper surface of the main body plate 121 of the panel 102 via the lower surface of its housing 204, the distance between the main body plate 112 of the base 101 of the hidden vehicle door handle and the main body plate 121 of the panel 102 can be adjusted correspondingly by adjusting the predetermined position, thereby adjusting the distance between the hidden vehicle door handle and the panel 102 (e.g., the inner sheet metal of the vehicle).The hidden vehicle door handle typically needs to be aligned with an exterior sheet metal of the vehicle to ensure the aesthetics of the vehicle. Thus, the hidden vehicle door handle can be easily aligned with the exterior sheet metal of the vehicle by appropriately adjusting the distance between the hidden vehicle door handle (e.g., its base) and the interior sheet metal (e.g., the panel 102) of the vehicle.

[0040] According to the present invention, the tolerance adjustment device 100 further comprises a centering structure 201 (see [Fig. 2]) so that the fastener 202 of the tolerance adjustment device 100 is axially movable back and forth in the housing 204 and the fastener 202 is held substantially on a central axis of the housing 204. According to the present invention, the term "substantially" is added in consideration of the fact that it may be difficult in practice to achieve completely error-free localization on the central axis. The term "substantially on the central axis" actually means "on the central axis". According to the present invention, the tolerance adjustment device 100 enables the hidden vehicle door handle to be easily installed, as described in detail below.

[0041] [Fig.2] is an exploded view of the tolerance adjustment device 100, and [Fig.3] is a cross-sectional view of the tolerance adjustment device 100 in an assembled state, to illustrate various components of the tolerance adjustment device 100, as well as positional and cooperative relationships between these components.

[0042] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the tolerance adjustment device 100 comprises a centering structure 201, a fastener 202, a support member 203 and a housing 204. The housing 204 is a cylindrical body extending vertically through and comprises an inlet 243 and an outlet 244 opposite each other. A channel 245 is formed in the housing 204. The fastener 202 is partially disposed in the channel 245 of the housing 204. The centering structure 201 is arranged to be cooperatively connected to the fastener 202 and the housing 204 such that the fastener 202 is axially movable back and forth in the channel 245 of the housing 204 and the fastener 202 is held substantially on the central axis of the housing 204.

[0043] The centering structure 201 comprises a first engagement portion 211, a second engagement portion 212, and a plurality of ribs 213. The plurality of ribs 213 extend between the first engagement portion 211 and the second engagement portion 212 and are circumferentially spaced apart from each other. More specifically, the plurality of ribs 213 extend spirally between the first engagement portion 211 and the second engagement portion 212. The plurality of ribs 213 are resilient members configured to be deformable such that the fastener 202 is axially movable back and forth in the channel 245 and the fastener 202 is held substantially on the central axis of the housing 204. The plurality of ribs 213 are arranged symmetrically in a circumferential direction.

[0044] The first engagement portion 211 of the centering structure 201 is configured to be removably engaged in the housing 204. The first engagement portion 211 is mounted at the inlet 243 of the housing 204. The first engagement portion 211 includes a projection 214. The housing 204 is provided with an opening 241. The opening 241 is adjacent the inlet 243 of the housing 204. The projection 214 of the first engagement portion 211 of the centering structure 201 is configured to be removably nested in the opening 241 of the housing 204, such that the first engagement portion 211 of the centering structure 201 is removably engaged with the housing 204. [Fig. 2] illustrates two projections 214 and two openings 241. In other embodiments, the first engaging portion 211 includes other suitable numbers of projections 214, and the housing 204 includes other suitable numbers of openings 241.The first engagement portion 211 includes other structures suitable for being removably engaged in the housing 204.

[0045] The second engagement portion 212 of the centering structure 201 is configured to engage with the fastener 202. The fastener 202 comprises a head 221, a flange 222 and a fastening portion 223. The head 221 and the fastening portion 223 are axially connected, and the flange 222 is disposed at a meeting position between the head 221 and the fastening portion 223 and extends radially. The second engagement portion 212 of the centering structure 201 is engaged with the head 221 of the fastener 202 to radially immobilize the head 221 relative to the second engagement portion 212. When the fastener 202 is mounted in the tolerance adjustment device 100, as shown in [Fig. 3], the head 221 and the flange 222 of the fastener 202 are disposed within the housing 204.The securing portion 223 of the fastener 202 extends out of the housing 204 from the outlet 244 to secure in the panel 102 (see Figures 1A-1C).

[0046] The support member 203 is mounted at the outlet 244 of the housing 204. The support member 203 is configured to support the fastener 202. The support member 203 comprises a main body portion 231 and a flange 232 extending axially from the main body portion 231. The main body portion 231 is annular. The main body portion 231 and the flange 232 form a through opening 233. A flange 246 is also provided at the bottom of the housing 204, and the flange 246 extends radially toward the center of the housing 204 to form an opening, i.e., the outlet 244 of the housing 204. The main body portion 231 of the support member 203 is arranged to be disposed on the flange 246 of the housing 204, and the flange 232 of the support member 203 is inserted into the opening (i.e., the outlet 244) defined by the flange 246 of the housing 204.In one embodiment, an outer diameter of the main body portion 231 of the support member 203 is approximately equal to an inner diameter of the housing 204 to prevent the support member 203 from moving radially within the housing 204. In one embodiment, an outer diameter of the flange 232 of the support member 203 is approximately equal to an inner diameter of the outlet 244 of the housing 204 to prevent the support member 203 from moving radially within the housing 204. The opening 233 of the support member 203 is aligned with the outlet 244 of the housing 204, and the opening 233 is substantially disposed at a central axis of the outlet 244.

[0047] The flange 222 of the fastener 202 is disposed on the support member 203, and the fastening portion 223 of the fastener 202 extends outside the housing 204 from the opening 233 of the support member 203. An inner diameter of the opening 233 of the support member 203 is greater than an outer diameter of the fastening portion 223 of the fastener 202, and an outer diameter of the flange 222 of the fastener 202 is less than an inner diameter of the housing 204, so that the fastener 202 is radially movable in the housing 204.

[0048] As shown in [Fig. 3], in the assembled state, the projection 214 of the first engagement portion 211 of the centering structure 201 is nested in the opening 241 of the housing 204. The plurality of ribs 213 of the centering structure 201 are configured to be compressed so that the second engagement portion 212 of the centering structure 201 abuts the flange 222 of the fastener 202 to prevent the fastener 202 from being axially disengaged from the socket of the housing 204. The second engagement portion 212 of the centering structure 201 is engaged with the head 221 of the fastener 202 such that the second engagement portion 212 of the centering structure 201 is not disengaged from the socket of the head 221 of the fastener 202 as the fastener 202 moves radially in the housing 204, which eliminates the need to reassemble the centering structure 201.The head 221 of the fastener 202 is cylindrical, the second engaging part 212 of the structure. centering portion 201 is an annular cylinder, and the second engaging portion 212 covers a portion of the head 221 to prevent the second engaging portion 212 from being disengaged from the head engagement 221.

[0049] The first engagement portion 211 and the second engagement portion 212 of the centering structure 201 are disposed coaxially with the housing 204. The size of the first engagement portion 211 is at least equal to the size of the second engagement portion 212. In one embodiment, the first engagement portion 211 and the second engagement portion 212 are concentric rings. In the natural state (i.e., when no external force is applied), the second engagement portion 212 is engaged with the fastener 202 such that the fastener 202 is held substantially in the central axis of the housing 204. The fastener 202 is movable radially and axially in the housing 204 when the fastener 202 is subjected to an external force.

[0050] [Fig.4A] is a schematic cross-sectional view of the hidden vehicle door handle mounted on the panel 102 according to one embodiment of the present invention, and [Fig.4B] is a schematic cross-sectional view of the hidden vehicle door handle mounted on the panel 102 according to another embodiment of the present invention. An outer wall of the housing 204 of the tolerance adjustment device 100 is mounted on the base 101 of the hidden vehicle door handle at a predetermined axial position thereof. The attachment 202 of the tolerance adjustment device 100 is fixed in a vehicle interior panel so that the hidden vehicle door handle is mounted on the panel 102 of the vehicle.

[0051] As shown in Figures 4A and 4B, the panel 102 (e.g., the inner sheet metal of the vehicle door) is vertically secured to the vehicle, the tolerance adjuster 100 is mounted on the base 101 of the hidden vehicle door handle (vertically oriented), and the hidden vehicle door handle is disposed at a predetermined position to be aligned with the outer sheet metal of the vehicle. The centering structure 201 substantially retains the fastener 202 on the center axis of the housing 204, so that the fastener 202 of the tolerance adjuster 100 can be easily inserted into the opening 122 of the panel 102 when the tolerance adjuster 100 is not aligned with the opening 122 of the panel 102, thereby securing the fastener 202 in the panel 102.The centering structure 201 can reduce the offset between the tolerance adjustment device 100 and the panel 102, thereby facilitating the mounting of the tolerance adjustment device 100 on the panel 102.

[0052] The centering structure 201 is configured such that the attachment 202 of the tolerance adjustment device 100 is axially movable back and forth in the housing 204. Upon installation, the fastener 202 of the tolerance adjuster 100 substantially protrudes into the housing 204 so that the lower surface of the housing 204 of the tolerance adjuster 100 abuts the surface of the panel 102, which in turn aligns the hidden vehicle door handle on the tolerance adjuster 100, for example, with the exterior sheet metal of the vehicle. At this point, the installation of the hidden vehicle door handle is completed by fixing the tolerance adjuster 100 in the panel 102. Therefore, according to the present invention, the hidden vehicle door handle can be mounted on the panel 102 after being aligned with the exterior sheet metal of the vehicle, so that the hidden vehicle door handle can be mounted easily and reliably.

[0053] When the tolerance adjustment device 100 is not aligned with the panel 102, for example, when a tip of the fastener 202 of the tolerance adjustment device 100 is aligned with an edge of the opening 122 of the panel 102, the plurality of ribs 213 of the centering structure 201 can cause the fastener 202 to protrude into the opening 122 of the panel 102. That is, the fastener 202 is axially displaced, thereby enabling the fastener 202 of the tolerance adjustment device 100 to be fixed in the opening 122 of the panel 102 using a tool.

[0054] As shown in [Fig.4A], in the process of securing the fastener 202, the fastener 202 is radially displaced (i.e., radially offset from the central axis of the housing 204) in the housing 204 to be aligned with the opening 122 of the panel 102, thereby securing the fastener 202 in the opening 122 of the panel 102. The second engagement portion 212 of the centering structure 201 is still engaged (not disengaged from engagement) with the head 221 of the fastener 202 after the radial displacement of the fastener 202, so that it is not necessary to reassemble the centering structure 201.

[0055] [Fig.4B] illustrates a partially installed state, in which the fastener 202 is secured in the opening 122 of the panel 102 when the tolerance adjustment device 100 is aligned with the panel 102, for example when the fastener 202 of the tolerance adjustment device 100 is disposed substantially at a central axis of the panel 102.

[0056] Although the present invention is described with respect to the exemplary embodiments set forth above, various alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements and / or substantial equivalents that are known or common or soon to be anticipated may be apparent to any person skilled in the art. Furthermore, the technical effects and / or technical problems described in this disclosure are not limiting, but may be used to solve other technical problems and other technical effects and / or may solve other technical problems. Therefore, the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure as set forth above are intended to be illustrative and not limiting. Various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is intended to include all known or previously disclosed basic alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements and / or equivalents. List of reference signs

[0057] 100 tolerance adjustment device

[0058] 101 base

[0059] 102 panel

[0060] 111 flange

[0061] 112 main body plate

[0062] 113 opening

[0063] 121 main body plate

[0064] 122 opening

[0065] 123 flange

[0066] 201 centering structure

[0067] 202 attachment

[0068] 203 support member

[0069] 204 housing

[0070] 211 first engagement portion

[0071] 212 second engagement portion

[0072] 213 plurality of ribs

[0073] 214 projection

[0074] 221 head

[0075] 222 flange

[0076] 223 fixing part

[0077] 233 opening

[0078] 241 opening

[0079] 243 inlet

[0080] 244 outlet

[0081] 245 channel

Claims

Claims

1. A tolerance adjustment device (100), comprising: a housing (204) being a through-cylindrical body and including an inlet (243) and an outlet (244) which are opposite to each other, and the housing (204) forming a channel (245); a fastener (202) partially disposed in the channel (245); and a centering structure (201) cooperatively connected to the fastener (202) and the housing (204) such that the fastener (202) is axially movable back and forth in the channel (245) and the fastener (202) is held substantially on a central axis of the housing (204).

2. The tolerance adjustment device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the centering structure (201) comprises: a first engagement portion (211) configured to be removably engaged with the housing (204); a second engagement portion (212) configured to be engaged with the fastener (202); and a plurality of ribs (213) extending between the first engagement portion (211) and the second engagement portion (212) and being spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction.

3. The tolerance adjustment device (100) according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of ribs (213) extend spirally between the first engagement portion (211) and the second engagement portion (212).

4. The tolerance adjustment device (100) of claim 2, wherein the plurality of ribs (213) are resilient members configured to be deformable such that the fastener (202) is axially movable back and forth in the channel (245) and the fastener (202) is held substantially on the central axis of the housing (204).

5. The tolerance adjustment device (100) according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of ribs (213) are arranged symmetrically in the circumferential direction.

6. A tolerance adjustment device (100) according to claim 2, wherein the first engagement portion (211) and the second engagement portion (212) of the centering structure (201) are arranged coaxially with the housing (204).

7. The tolerance adjustment device (100) according to claim 6, wherein the size of the first engaging portion (211) is not smaller than the size of the second engaging portion (212).

8. The tolerance adjustment device (100) according to claim 4, wherein the fastener (202) comprises a head (221), a flange (222) and a fastening portion (223), the head (221) and the fastening portion (223) are axially connected, and the flange (222) is disposed at a meeting position between the head (221) and the fastening portion (223) and extends in a radial direction, wherein the centering structure (201) and the fastener (202) are configured such that the second engagement portion (212) of the centering structure (201) is engaged with the head (221) of the fastener (202) to prevent the head (221) from moving relative to the second engagement portion (212) in the radial direction;and the elastic member (213) of the centering structure (201) is compressed so that the second engagement portion (212) of the centering structure (201) abuts against the flange (222) of the fastener (202) to prevent the fastener (202) from being axially disengaged from the housing engagement (204).;

9. The tolerance adjustment device (100) according to claim 8, wherein the head (221) of the fastener (202) is cylindrical, the second engagement portion (212) of the centering structure (201) is an annular cylinder, and the second engagement portion (212) covers a portion of the head (221) to prevent the second engagement portion (212) from being disengaged from the engagement of the head (221).

10. The tolerance adjustment device (100) according to claim 8, wherein: the first engagement portion (211) of the centering structure (201) is mounted at the inlet (243); and the head (221) and the flange (222) of the fastener (202) are disposed inside the housing (204), and the fastening portion (223) of the attachment (202) extends outwardly of the housing (204) from the outlet (244).

11. The tolerance adjustment device (100) of claim 10, wherein the tolerance adjustment device (100) further comprises: a support member (203) mounted at the outlet (244) of the housing (204) and configured to support the fastener (202).

12. The tolerance adjustment device (100) according to claim 11, wherein: the support member (203) includes an opening (233) aligned with the outlet (244), and the inner diameters of the opening (233) and the outlet (244) are greater than an outer diameter of the fixing portion (223) of the fastener (202) so that the fastener (202) can move in the radial direction; and the flange (222) of the fastener (202) is provided on the support member (203), and the fixing portion (223) of the fastener (202) extends outward of the housing (204) from the opening (233).

13. The tolerance adjustment device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the tolerance adjustment device (100) is configured such that an outer wall of the housing (204) is mounted on a base (101) of a hidden vehicle door handle at a predetermined axial position thereof; and the attachment (202) is attached to a vehicle interior panel such that the hidden vehicle door handle is mounted on the vehicle interior panel.

Images