Door handle device

Abstract

To provide a door handle device which can enhance the degree of freedom of design of a storage space and an energization member even when the size of the storage space of a lid body is restricted.SOLUTION: A door handle device includes: a bracket 10 which is mounted on a door of a vehicle and has a storage space S serving as a hand hook space in which an opening part 26 is formed on a front surface side; a lid body 30 which has a hinge shaft 31 supported by the bracket 10, is provided rotatably in the storage space S of the bracket 10, and opens / closes the opening part 26; and an energization member 50 for energizing the lid body 30 in a closing direction by imparting an energization force to the lid body 30. The lid body 30 includes an operation part 40 provided outside the bracket 10 and connected to the hinge shaft 31, and the energization member 50 is arranged outside the bracket 10 and imparts an energization force to the operation part 40.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a door handle device.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an automotive door handle including a base having an opening portion formed of a receiving groove, a lid body formed of a rotating body that is rotatably supported with respect to the base by a hinge portion and opens and closes the opening portion of the base, and a spring that biases the lid body inward to a position where the opening portion is closed. In this door handle, when a user manually pushes in the lid body, the lid body rotates inward against the biasing force of the spring and is received in the receiving space inside the opening portion, and a finger can be hooked on the edge of the opening portion.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in the above door handle, the spring that biases the lid body inward is disposed so as to externally surround the hinge portion inside the receiving space of the base. Despite the limited size of the receiving space, in order to install a spring with a coil diameter that exerts a predetermined torque inside the main space, the door handle of Patent Document 1 provides a spring passing hole 41 at the upper part of the base at the sacrifice of waterproofness. Thus, in the door handle that operates toward the inside of the door, there have been restrictions in the design of the receiving space and the spring.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a door handle device capable of increasing the degree of freedom in the design of the receiving space and the biasing member even when the size of the receiving space for the lid body is limited.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0006] The above object of the present invention is achieved by the following configuration. (1) A bracket attached to a vehicle door and having an accommodation space serving as a hanging space with an opening formed on the front side, a lid body having a hinge shaft supported by the bracket and rotatably provided in the accommodation space of the bracket to open and close the opening, a biasing member that biases the lid body in the closing direction by applying a biasing force to the lid body, and the lid body has an operation portion provided outside the bracket and connected to the hinge shaft, the biasing member is disposed outside the bracket and applies a biasing force to the operation portion, a door handle device.

[0007] (2) The biasing member is a torsion spring having a cylindrical coil portion formed by winding a strip-shaped body in a coil shape, and locking end portions formed by both ends of the strip-shaped body protruding from the coil portion, the coil portion is externally inserted into a boss formed on the outer surface of the bracket, one of the locking end portions is locked to the bracket and the other is locked to the operation portion, the door handle device according to (1).

[0008] (3) The boss is located on the back side of the hinge shaft with respect to the front surface of the bracket, and restricts the movement of the biasing member to the front side by contacting the inner periphery of the coil portion, the door handle device according to (2).

[0009] (4) The boss has an outer peripheral portion formed in a circular shape, and the outer peripheral portion has an arc-shaped portion that contacts the coil portion and an open portion excluding the arc-shaped portion, the hinge shaft is located inside the open portion, the door handle device according to (3).

[0010] (5) The operation unit a gear member having a gear fixed to the hinge shaft, an arm portion having a gear meshing with the gear of the gear member and rotatably supported by the bracket, The door handle device according to (1) or (2).

Advantages of the Invention

[0011] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a door handle device that can increase the degree of freedom in the design of the accommodation space and the biasing member even when the size of the accommodation space of the lid body is restricted.

[0012] The present invention has been briefly described above. Further, the details of the present invention will be further clarified by reading through the embodiments for carrying out the invention described below (hereinafter referred to as "embodiments") with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013]

Figure 1

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MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0014] Hereinafter, examples of embodiments according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0015] (First Embodiment) First, the door handle device 100 according to the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the door handle device 100 according to the first embodiment as viewed from the front side. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the door handle device 100 according to the first embodiment as viewed from the rear side. FIG. 3 is a front view of the door handle device 100 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a side view of the door handle device 100 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the door handle device 100 with the frame body 11 of the bracket 10 and the front panel portion 22 of the case 21 removed as viewed from the front side. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the door handle device 100 with the frame body 11 of the bracket 10 and the front panel portion 22 of the case 21 removed and the lid body 30 pushed in as viewed from the front side.

[0016] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the door handle device 100 according to the present embodiment includes a bracket 10, a lid body 30, and a biasing member 50. In FIG. 1, arrow FR indicates the front of the vehicle, arrow BC indicates the rear of the vehicle, arrow UP indicates the upper side of the vehicle, arrow DW indicates the lower side of the vehicle, arrow WR indicates the right side of the vehicle, and arrow WL indicates the left side of the vehicle.

[0017] The door handle device 100 is provided on the door of a vehicle such as an automobile. An attachment hole 2 is formed in an outer panel 1 that constitutes the door on which the door handle device 100 is provided (see FIG. 4). The door handle device 100 is assembled on the inner surface side at the location where the attachment hole 2 of the outer panel 1 is formed.

[0018] The bracket 10 has a frame body 11 and a case 21. The frame body 11 is formed in a rectangular frame shape in front view having an upper panel portion 12, a lower panel portion 13, and side panel portions 14, 15. The case 21 is fitted inside the frame body 11. The case 21 has a front panel portion 22, a rear panel portion 23, and side panel portions 24, 25 (see FIG. 5). The front panel portion 22 has an opening 26 on the lower side. This opening 26 is disposed at a position communicating with the attachment hole 2 of the outer panel 1. Then, when operating the door handle device 100, the user's finger is inserted into these communicating attachment hole 2 and opening 26. The rear panel portion 23 has a shape that curves in an arc shape toward the rear in a cross-sectional view in the vertical direction. Further, the rear panel portion 23 has a bottom surface portion 23a at the lower part. The side panel portions 24, 25 are assembled to both side portions of the rear panel portion 23. The bracket 10 having these frame body 11 and case 21 has an internal space S inside the case 21.

[0019] The bracket 10 is formed with attachment portions 29 having fastening members 28 at the upper and lower parts of the frame body 11. The bracket 10 has two attachment portions 29 at its upper part and one attachment portion 29 at its lower part. The bracket 10 is fixed to the inner surface side of the outer panel 1 by fastening the fastening members 28 of the attachment portions 29 to a stay (not shown) of the outer panel 1. Thereby, the door handle device 100 is assembled to the door.

[0020] The lid body 30 is supported by the bracket 10 and is disposed within the accommodation space S of the bracket 10. This lid body 30 has a hinge shaft 31, a lid main body 32, and a plurality of connecting portions 33 (see FIG. 5). The hinge shaft 31 is composed of a rod body extending in the horizontal direction, and both ends 31a, 31b thereof are rotatably supported by both side plate portions 14, 15 of the frame body 11 of the bracket 10 and both side plate portions 24, 25 of the case 21. The lid main body 32 is formed in a rectangular plate shape. The connecting portions 33 are integrally formed on the back surface side of the lid main body 32. These connecting portions 33 extend toward the hinge shaft 31, and the ends thereof are fixed to the hinge shaft 31. Thereby, the lid body 30 is configured such that the lid main body 32 can rotate together with the hinge shaft 31.

[0021] The lid main body 32 has an outer shape that is slightly smaller than the inner shape of the opening 26 formed in the front plate portion 22 of the case 21 of the bracket 10. Then, when the lid body 30 is rotated from the inside to the outside of the accommodation space S, the lid main body 32 is fitted into the opening 26 of the front plate portion 22 of the bracket 10, and the opening 26 is closed. Also, as shown in FIG. 6, when the lid body 30 is rotated toward the inside of the accommodation space S and moves to the back side of the accommodation space S, it disengages from the opening 26, and the opening 26 of the bracket 10 is opened. That is, the lid body 30 is arranged at a closed position where the opening 26 of the bracket 10 is closed and an open position where the opening 26 of the bracket 10 is opened by being rotated about the axis of the hinge shaft 31.

[0022] The lid body 30 has an operation portion 40. The operation portion 40 is provided at one end 31a of the hinge shaft 31 of the lid body 30. Thereby, the operation portion 40 rotates together with the hinge shaft 31.

[0023] The operation unit 40 has a fixing part 41 that is fitted and fixed to one end 31a of the hinge shaft 31, and an arm part 42 that extends from this fixing part 41 in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the hinge shaft 31. The arm part 42 has a locking projection 43 that protrudes toward the bracket 10 at its tip. That is, the lid body 30 and the operation unit 40 are constituted by separate parts, and after the lid body 30 is assembled to the bracket 10, the fixing part 41 of the operation unit 40 can be fitted to one end 31a of the hinge shaft 31.

[0024] The biasing member 50 is a torsion spring having a coil part 51 and two locking end parts 52, 53. This biasing member 50 applies a biasing force to the lid body 30, thereby pressing the lid body 30 from the inside of the accommodation space S and arranging it in a closed position for closing the opening 26. The coil part 51 is formed in a cylindrical shape by winding a wire body in a coil shape. The locking end parts 52, 53 are formed from both ends of the wire body and protrude radially outward from the coil part 51.

[0025] The biasing member 50 is disposed outside the bracket 10. Specifically, the biasing member 50 is disposed on the outer surface of the side plate part 14 of the frame body 11 of the bracket 10. The side plate part 14 of the frame body 11 has a boss 16 that protrudes laterally and has a circular cross-sectional shape in a sectional view. The coil part 51 of the biasing member 50 is externally inserted into the boss 16. The boss 16 has an outer peripheral part formed in a circular shape, and the outer peripheral part has an arc-shaped part 16a that contacts the coil part 51 and an open part 16b excluding the arc-shaped part 16a. The hinge shaft 31 is located inside the open part 16b. Also, the central axis of the boss 16 is located closer to the rear plate part 23 side than the hinge shaft 31. Thereby, while bringing the hinge shaft 31 for rotating the lid body 30 closer to the front plate part 22 side, it is possible to prevent the coil part 51 from contacting the outer panel 1.

[0026] A locking part 17 is formed on the side plate part 14 of the frame body 11 of the bracket 10, and one locking end part 52 of the biasing member 50 is locked to the locking part 17. Also, the other locking end part 53 of the biasing member 50 is locked to a locking projection 43 formed on the arm part 42 that constitutes the operation unit 40 of the lid body 30.

[0027] And the biasing member 50 disposed outside the bracket 10 applies a biasing force to the operating portion 40 fixed to the lid body 30. As a result, the lid body 30 is pressed from the inside of the accommodation space S to the closed position where the lid main body 32 closes the opening 26 by the biasing force transmitted from the operating portion 40 to the hinge shaft 31.

[0028] Further, a damper 62 having a gear 61 is attached to the other side plate portion 15 of the frame body 11 of the bracket 10. A gear 63 provided at the other end 31b of the hinge shaft 31 is engaged with the gear 61 of the damper 62. Thereby, rattling when the lid body 30 rotates is suppressed by the damper 62, and the lid body 30 rotates smoothly.

[0029] In the door handle device 100 having the above structure, the user pushes in the lid main body 32 of the lid body 30 in the closed position closing the opening 26 with a finger against the biasing force of the biasing member 50. Then, the lid body 30 rotates inward into the accommodation space S by the pushing force of the finger and moves to the open position where the opening 26 is opened (see FIG. 6). Then, when the user hooks a finger on the edge of the opening 26 and pulls it forward to open it, the door is opened. Further, when the user withdraws a finger from the opening 26, the lid main body 32 of the lid body 30 is pressed from the inside to the outside of the accommodation space S by the biasing force of the biasing member 50 and moves to the closed position. Thereby, the lid main body 32 is fitted into the opening 26 and the opening 26 is closed. Note that the lid body 30 may be moved to the open position by the pushing force of a finger, or may be moved by a motor from that position to the open position when it is pushed by a finger to a predetermined position in the closed position.

[0030] As described above, according to the door handle device 100 according to the first embodiment, the biasing member 50 that biases the lid 30 and presses it to the closed position is disposed outside the bracket 10. Therefore, it is possible to increase the degree of freedom in the design of the biasing member 50 while sufficiently securing the accommodation space S that serves as a hand-holding space for the user's finger. Further, this prevents the biasing member 50 from being touched by the hand, and it can be easily operated while suppressing the adhesion of a lubricant or the like to the user's finger.

[0031] Moreover, the biasing member 50 has a cylindrical coil portion 51 that is externally inserted into a boss 16 formed on the outer surface of the bracket 10. Therefore, the biasing member 50 can be favorably attached to the bracket 10, and the biasing member 50 can be maintained in a stable posture even when the lid 30 rotates, and the lid 30 can be favorably pressed toward the closed position. Further, by increasing the diameter of the boss 16, it is possible to secure the length of the biasing member 50 while suppressing the protruding length of the boss 16 to the side, and obtain a desired biasing force.

[0032] (Second Embodiment) Next, a door handle device according to the second embodiment will be described. Note that the same structures as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the door handle device 200 according to the second embodiment as viewed from the front side. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the door handle device 200 according to the second embodiment as viewed from the rear side. FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of one side portion of the door handle device 200 according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a front view of the door handle device 200 with the frame body 11 of the bracket 10 and the front panel portion 22 of the case 21 removed.

[0033] As shown in FIGS. 7 to 10, the door handle device 200 according to the second embodiment has an operation portion 40A at one end 31a and the other end 31b of the hinge shaft 31 of the lid body 30. These operation portions 40A are arranged on the outer surfaces of both side plate portions 14 and 15 of the frame body 11 of the bracket 10. Further, the door handle device 200 is provided with biasing members 50 on the outer surfaces of both side plate portions 14 and 15 of the frame body 11 of the bracket 10, respectively.

[0034] The operation portion 40A has a gear member 71 having a gear 71a and an arm portion 72 having a gear 72a. The gear member 71 is fitted and fixed to one end 31a and the other end 31b of the hinge shaft 31. The arm portion 72 is rotatably supported by pins 73 on both side plate portions 14 and 15 of the frame body 11 of the bracket 10. The gear 72a of the arm portion 72 is engaged with the gear 71a of the gear member 71 fixed to the hinge shaft 31. The arm portion 72 extends in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the hinge shaft 31 and has a locking groove 74 at its tip end portion. One locking end portion 52 of the biasing member 50 is locked to the locking groove 74 of the arm portion 72.

[0035] Further, bosses 16 into which the coil portions 51 of the biasing members 50 are externally inserted are respectively formed on both side plate portions 14 and 15 of the frame body 11 of the bracket 10. Further, locking pieces 75 are formed along the bosses 16 at positions in the vicinity of the outer peripheral sides of the bosses 16 on both side plate portions 14 and 15. The other locking end portion 53 of the biasing member 50 is locked to the locking piece 75. In the door handle device 200, the boss 16 is divided into two in the circumferential direction, and the operation portion 40A is arranged inside the boss 16.

[0036] In the door handle device 200 having the above structure, the biasing force of the biasing member 50 is transmitted to the arm portion 72 of the operating portion 40A. Then, the biasing force transmitted from the biasing member 50 to the arm portion 72 becomes the rotational force of the arm portion 72. This rotational force of the arm portion 72 is transmitted to the gear member 71 via the gears 72a and 71a that mesh with each other, whereby the hinge shaft 31 is rotated. Therefore, the lid body 30 is pressed from the inside of the accommodation space S to the closed position where the lid main body 32 closes the opening 26.

[0037] According to the door handle device 200 according to the second embodiment, the operating portion 40A includes a gear member 71 fixed to the hinge shaft 31 and an arm portion 72 rotatably supported by the bracket 10, and the gears 71a and 72a of the gear member 71 and the arm portion 72 are meshed with each other. Thereby, the arm portion 72 can be disposed at a position displaced from the hinge shaft 31, and the acting point of the biasing force by the biasing member 50 can be set regardless of the position of the hinge shaft 31. For example, the center of the coil portion 51 of the biasing member 50 can be made to coincide with the rotation center of the arm portion 72 supported by the pin 73, and the biasing force of the biasing member 50 can be favorably applied to the operating portion 40A.

[0038] Further, since the biasing force is applied from the biasing members 50 provided on both sides of the bracket 10 to the hinge shaft 31 of the lid body 30 in the door handle device 200, the lid body 30 can be pressed toward the closed position in a well-balanced manner. Also, as in the first embodiment, since the lid body 30 and the operating portion 40A are constituted by separate members, after the lid body 30 is assembled to the bracket 10, the gear member 71 can be fixed to one end 31a of the hinge shaft 31.

[0039] Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and modifications, improvements, etc. can be made as appropriate. In addition, the material, shape, dimensions, number, arrangement location, etc. of each component in the above-described embodiments are arbitrary as long as the present invention can be achieved, and are not limited.

[0040] Here, the features of the embodiment of the door handle device according to the present invention described above are briefly summarized and listed in [1] to [5] below, respectively. [1] A bracket (10) attached to a vehicle door and having an accommodation space (S) serving as a hand-holding space with an opening (26) formed on the front side, A hinge shaft (31) supported by the bracket (10), and a lid body (30) rotatably provided in the accommodation space (S) of the bracket (10) to open and close the opening (26), A biasing member (50) that biases the lid body (30) in the closing direction by applying a biasing force to the lid body (30), Comprising, The lid body (30) has operating portions (40, 40A) provided outside the bracket (10) and connected to the hinge shaft (31), The biasing member (50) is disposed outside the bracket (10) and applies a biasing force to the operating portions (40, 40A), a door handle device.

[0041] According to the door handle device having the configuration of [1] above, while sufficiently securing an accommodation space serving as a hand-holding space for the user's finger, the degree of freedom in the design of the biasing member can be increased. Further, thereby, the biasing member is not touched by the hand, and it can be easily operated while suppressing the adhesion of a lubricant or the like to the user's finger.

[0042] [2] The biasing member (50) is a torsion spring having a cylindrical coil portion (51) formed by winding a wire rod in a coil shape, and locking end portions (52, 53) formed by both ends of the wire rod protruding from the coil portion (51), The coil portion (51) is externally inserted into a boss (16) formed on the outer surface of the bracket (10), One of the locking end portions (52, 53) is locked to the bracket (10), and the other is locked to the operating portions (40, 40A), the door handle device according to [1].

[0043] According to the door handle device with the configuration of [2] above, the biasing member can be satisfactorily attached to the bracket, and even when the lid body rotates, the biasing member can be maintained in a stable posture and the lid body can be satisfactorily pressed toward the closed position.

[0044] [3] The boss (16) is located on the rear side of the hinge axis with respect to the front surface of the bracket (10) and abuts on the inner circumference of the coil portion to restrict the movement of the biasing member toward the front surface side. The door handle device according to [2].

[0045] According to the door handle device with the configuration of [3] above, since the central axis of the boss is located on the rear side with respect to the front surface of the bracket with respect to the hinge axis, the central axis of the coil portion wound around the boss is also located on the rear side with respect to the front surface of the bracket. Therefore, while suppressing the torsion spring from contacting the outer panel, it is possible to increase the diameter in order to suppress the overall length of the torsion spring.

[0046] [4] The boss (16) has an outer peripheral portion formed in a circular shape, and the outer peripheral portion has an arc-shaped portion (16a) that abuts on the coil portion (51) and an open portion (16b) excluding the arc-shaped portion. The hinge shaft (31) is located inside the open portion (16b). The door handle device according to [3].

[0047] According to the door handle device with the configuration of [4] above, even when the boss is formed in a cylindrical shape, since the hinge shaft is located inside the open portion, the hinge shaft does not interfere with the arrangement of the coil portion.

[0048] [5] The operation unit (40A) has a gear member (71) having a gear (71a) fixed to the hinge shaft (31), and an arm portion (72) having a gear (72a) meshing with the gear (71a) of the gear member (71) and rotatably supported by the bracket (10). The door handle device according to [1] or [2], comprising.

[0049] According to the door handle device configured as described in [5] above, the arm portion can be arranged at a position deviated from the hinge axis, and the action point of the biasing force by the biasing member can be set regardless of the position of the hinge axis. For example, by making the center of the coil portion of the biasing member coincide with the rotation center of the arm portion, the biasing force of the biasing member can be favorably applied to the operation portion.

Explanation of Signs

[0050] 10: Bracket 16: Boss 26: Opening 30: Cover 31: Hinge axis 40, 40A: Operation portion 50: Biasing member 51: Coil portion 52, 53: Locking end portions 71: Gear member 71a, 72a: Gears 72: Arm portion 100, 200: Door handle device S: Accommodation space

Claims

1. A bracket attached to a vehicle door and having a storage space that serves as a hanging space with an opening formed on the front side, a lid body having a hinge shaft supported by the bracket and rotatably provided in the storage space of the bracket to open and close the opening, a biasing member that biases the lid body in the closing direction by applying a biasing force to the lid body, comprising: The lid body has an operation portion provided outside the bracket and connected to the hinge shaft. The biasing member is disposed outside the bracket and applies a biasing force to the operation portion. A door handle device.

2. The biasing member is a torsion spring having a cylindrical coil portion formed by winding a wire strip into a coil shape, and locking end portions formed by both ends of the wire strip protruding from the coil portion. The coil portion is externally inserted into a boss formed on the outer surface of the bracket. One of the locking end portions is locked to the bracket, and the other is locked to the operation portion. The door handle device according to Claim 1.

3. The boss is located deeper than the hinge shaft with respect to the front surface of the bracket and abuts against the inner circumference of the coil portion to restrict the movement of the biasing member toward the front side. The door handle device according to Claim 2.

4. The boss has an outer peripheral portion formed in a circular shape, and the outer peripheral portion has an arc-shaped portion that abuts against the coil portion and an open portion excluding the arc-shaped portion. The hinge shaft is located inside the open portion. The door handle device according to Claim 3.

5. The operation portion has a gear member having a gear fixed to the hinge shaft, and an arm portion having a gear meshing with the gear of the gear member and rotatably supported by the bracket. comprising: The door handle device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2.

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