Vehicle side door

Abstract

To prevent the engagement of a door striker in a latch mechanism from being released when a vehicle receives a lateral collision.SOLUTION: A vehicle side door 12 comprises: a door handle 20; a handle frame 24; a lock 32 having a lever 36 that operates a latch mechanism; and a bell crank 40 having a fulcrum 42 in the handle frame 24. When the door handle 20 is pulled toward the outside of a vehicle body, the pulling force is transmitted to one end 43 of the bell crank 40, and the other end 46 of the bell crank 40 pushes down the lever 36 of the lock 32 via a rod 60 to release engagement of a door striker of the latch mechanism. The side door 12 further includes a spacer 26 fixed to the handle frame 24 and a protector 30 having a corner outside face 30s of a folded plate member covering a portion of the lock 32. The spacer 26 includes an inclined surface 28 that faces diagonally downward toward the corner outside face 30s of the protector 30.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a side door of a vehicle, and more particularly to a structure of a side door that prevents the side door from opening in a side collision.

Background Art

[0002] An automobile side door is generally held in a closed position by a latch mechanism of a lock provided on the door side engaging detachably with a door striker fixed to a vehicle body panel.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a door latch release force transmission mechanism that transmits a door latch release force from a door handle and a release actuator provided on a vehicle door to a latch mechanism capable of latching the vehicle door in a closed state to release the latch.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] As one form, a vehicle side door includes a door handle disposed outside a door outer panel, and a handle frame and a lock disposed between the door outer panel and a door inner panel. The handle frame is connected to the door handle with the door outer panel interposed therebetween. The lock is disposed inside the handle frame in the vehicle width direction. The lock includes a latch mechanism that engages with a door striker and a lever that operates the latch mechanism. Further, the side door includes a bell crank having a fulcrum on the handle frame.

[0006] When the user pulls the door handle outward of the vehicle body, the pulling force is transmitted to one end of the bell crank, and the other end of the bell crank pushes down the lock lever via a rod, thereby releasing the engagement of the door striker in the lock latch mechanism.

[0007] When this side door is adopted in a vehicle, depending on the shape of the door outer panel of the door handle part and the like, when the vehicle receives a side collision, it is conceivable that the door handle and the handle frame are displaced downward as the door outer panel deforms. In this case, it is conceivable that the lock lever is pushed down via the rod by the other end of the bell crank having a fulcrum on the handle frame, and the engagement of the door striker in the lock latch mechanism is unintentionally released.

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a side door capable of preventing the engagement of the door striker in the latch mechanism from being released when the vehicle receives a side collision.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0009] The side door of the vehicle according to the present invention includes a door handle disposed outside the door outer panel, a handle frame disposed inside the door outer panel and connected to the door handle with the door outer panel interposed therebetween, and a lock disposed inside the handle frame in the vehicle width direction, the lock having a latch mechanism that engages with a door striker provided on a vehicle body panel forming a door opening and a lever that operates the latch mechanism, and a bell crank having a fulcrum on the handle frame. When the door handle is pulled outward of the vehicle body, the pulling force is transmitted to one end of the bell crank, and the other end of the bell crank pushes down the lever of the lock via a rod, so that the side door is configured to release the engagement of the door striker in the latch mechanism of the lock. The side door further includes a spacer fixed to the handle frame and a bent plate member covering a part of the lock on the spacer side, and a protector having an outer corner surface that is an outer surface of the bent portion of the plate member. The spacer includes an inclined surface that faces the outer corner surface of the protector and is inclined downward obliquely.

Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to the present invention, when the vehicle is subjected to a side collision and the door outer panel is deformed and the door handle and the handle frame intrude inward in the vehicle width direction, the inclined surface of the spacer fixed to the handle frame comes into contact with the outer corner surface of the protector. Then, in response to the further inward intrusion of the spacer in the vehicle width direction, the spacer is displaced inward and upward (obliquely) in the vehicle width direction while the inclined surface thereof is in contact with the outer corner surface of the protector. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the handle frame fixed to the spacer from moving downward, and it is possible to suppress the other end of the bell crank having a fulcrum on the handle frame from pushing down the lever of the lock via the rod. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the engagement of the door striker in the latch mechanism of the lock from being unintentionally released.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein. The same reference numerals are given to the same elements in all the drawings, and redundant explanations are omitted. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, the terms indicating directions and orientations such as front, rear, left, right, up, and down represent the directions and orientations related to the vehicle. In each figure, the direction of arrow FR represents the front, the direction of arrow UP represents the up, and the direction of arrow LH represents the left. Also, the side closer to the center in the left-right direction (width direction) of the vehicle is referred to as the inner side in the vehicle width direction, and the side farther from the center is referred to as the outer side in the vehicle width direction.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a door handle 20 and related members in a vehicle. The vehicle is an automobile. The door handle 20 is used for the side door 12 of the vehicle as shown in FIG. 2(A). FIG. 1 is a plan view omitting members such as a door outer panel 14 (see FIG. 2(A)) and a door inner panel 16 in the side door 12. FIG. 2(A) is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 1, and the members of the side door 12 omitted in FIG. 1 are also shown. Note that FIG. 2(B) is a cross-sectional view of the side door 12 of the vehicle during a side collision.

[0014] The side door 12 is the rear door on the left side of the vehicle and is a hinged door (swing door). The side door 12 is held in the closed position by the detachable engagement of the latch mechanism 33 of the lock 32 provided on the door side with respect to the door striker 70 (see Fig. 3(B)) fixed to the vehicle body panel forming the door opening.

[0015] Note that part or all of the structure of the side door 12 described below may be adopted for the rear door on the right side of the vehicle, or the front door on the left or right side.

[0016] As shown in Fig. 1, the side door 12 includes a door handle 20, a handle frame 24, a spacer 26, and a lock 32. The door handle 20 is disposed outside the door outer panel 14 as shown in Fig. 2(A). The handle frame 24 is disposed inside the door outer panel 14. The handle frame 24 is connected to the door handle 20 with the door outer panel 14 interposed therebetween.

[0017] The spacer 26 is disposed inside the handle frame 24 in the vehicle width direction and is fixed to the handle frame 24. The lock 32 is disposed inside the spacer 26 in the vehicle width direction with a space therebetween.

[0018] Fig. 3(A) is a perspective view of the handle frame 24 and the spacer 26 as seen from the inside of the side door. In the figure, parts less relevant to the embodiment (inside the dashed line) are masked and shown. Fig. 3(B) is a perspective view mainly showing the lock 32 and the protector 30 (described later).

[0019] The lock 32 is fixed to the rear end panel of the side door 12, that is, the panel of the side door 12 facing the vehicle body panel forming the door opening. The lock 32 includes a latch mechanism 33 that engages with a door striker 70 (see Fig. 3(B)) provided on the vehicle body panel, and a lever 36 that operates the latch mechanism 33. Note that the hook of the door striker 70 enters the inside of the lock 32 from the opening 34 of the lock 32 and is engaged by the latch mechanism 33.

[0020] Further, as shown in FIG. 2(A), the side door 12 includes a bell crank 40 having a fulcrum 42 on the handle frame 24. The bell crank 40 is rotatable about the fulcrum 42. The bell crank 40 has a shaft protruding in the front-rear direction at the fulcrum 42, and the handle frame 24 has a bearing (recess) for receiving the shaft. The bell crank 40 has one end 43 and the other end 46.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 1, the door handle 20 includes a front portion 20f, a central portion 20c, and a rear portion 20r. A part of the front portion 20f and a part of the rear portion 20r of the door handle 20 enter the inside of the handle frame 24 through openings provided in the door outer panel 14, respectively.

[0022] The door handle 20 is configured such that the rear portion 20r is movable outward of the vehicle body about the front portion 20f as an axis. That is, when the user grips the central portion 20c of the door handle and pulls it outward of the vehicle body, the rear portion 20r of the door handle moves outward of the vehicle body. The portion of the rear portion 20r of the door handle 20 that enters the handle frame 24 has a movable wall 22 as shown in FIG. 2(A). One end 43 of the bell crank 40 faces the movable wall 22. The rear portion 20r of the door handle 20 is movable along the inner wall of the handle frame 24.

[0023] The side door 12 includes a rod 60 as shown in FIG. 2(A). The other end 46 of the bell crank 40 is connected to the upper end of the rod 60. The upper end of the rod 60 has a shaft 64 extending in the front-rear direction, and the other end 46 of the bell crank 40 has a hole for rotatably receiving the shaft 64. Thereby, the upper end of the rod 60 is rotatably connected to the other end 46 of the bell crank 40.

[0024] The lower end of the rod 60 forms two claws 66 that form a crotch. A pin 38 is attached to the lever 36 of the lock 32 as shown in Fig. 3(B). The pin 38 is disposed between the two claws 66 of the rod 60.

[0025] When the user pulls the door handle 20 outward of the vehicle body (refer to the white arrow in Fig. 2(A)), the rear portion 20r of the door handle 20 moves outward of the vehicle body. When the rear portion 20r of the door handle 20 moves outward of the vehicle body, the movable wall 22 moves the one end 43 of the bell crank 40 outward of the vehicle body. Thereby, the bell crank 40 rotates counterclockwise about the fulcrum 42, and the other end 46 of the bell crank 40 falls downward (refer to the white arrow in Fig. 2(A)). Thereby, the other end 46 of the bell crank 40 pushes down the pin 38 via the rod 60, and moves the lever 36 downward. By this downward push of the lever 36, the engagement of the door striker 70 (refer to Fig. 3(B)) in the latch mechanism 33 of the lock 32 is released.

[0026] As shown in Fig. 2(A), the side door 12 is provided with a protector 30 that covers a part on the spacer 26 side of the lock 32. The protector 30 is composed of a bent plate member, specifically, a metal plate. The protector 30 is fixed to the lock 32. The protector 30 includes a main body 30a and an edge portion 30b bent from the main body 30a. The edge portion 30b of the protector 30 faces the door inner panel 16. The main body 30a of the protector 30 has a bent portion corresponding to the upper corner portion on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the lock 32. The outer surface of the bent portion is the corner outer surface 30s.

[0027] The spacer 26 is provided with an inclined surface 28 (also refer to Fig. 3(A)) that faces diagonally downward and faces the corner outer surface 30s of the protector 30.

[0028] Next, the operational effects of the side door 12 described above will be explained. FIG. 2(B) is a diagram showing a cross-section of the side door 12 during a side collision when the vehicle is subjected to a side collision. FIG. 2(B) shows a cross-section of the side door 12 in front of the vehicle slightly compared to FIG. 2(A).

[0029] According to the side door 12 described above, when the vehicle is subjected to a side collision, it is possible to prevent the lock lever 36 from being unintentionally pushed down, and it is possible to prevent the engagement of the door striker 70 in the latch mechanism 33 of the lock 32 from being unintentionally released.

[0030] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2(B), when the vehicle is subjected to a side collision, if the door outer panel 14 is deformed and the door handle 20 and the handle frame 24 enter the inner side in the vehicle width direction, the inclined surface 28 of the spacer 26 fixed to the handle frame 24 will contact the outer surface 30s of the corner of the protector 30. At this time, by the spacer 26 pushing the protector 30 inward in the vehicle width direction, the edge 30b of the protector 30 contacts the door inner panel 16, and further movement of the protector 30 inward in the vehicle width direction is restricted.

[0031] Then, in response to the spacer 26 entering inward in the vehicle width direction, the spacer 26 will be displaced inward and upward (diagonal direction) in the vehicle width direction while its inclined surface 28 contacts the outer surface 30s of the corner of the protector 30 (see the hatched arrow in FIG. 2(B)). As a result, it is possible to suppress the downward movement of the handle frame 24 fixed to the spacer 26, and it is possible to suppress the other end 46 of the bell crank 40 having the fulcrum 42 on the handle frame 24 from pushing down the lever 36 of the lock 32 via the rod 60. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the engagement of the door striker 70 in the latch mechanism 33 of the lock 32 from being unintentionally released. That is, it is possible to prevent the unintentional opening of the side door 12.

[0032] Here, although the side collision of the vehicle has been described, the same operational effects can be obtained even in a situation where the vehicle rolls over and the door outer panel 14 is deformed.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0033] 12 Side door, 14 Door outer panel, 16 Door inner panel, 20 Door handle, 20f Front part, 20c Central part, 20r Rear part, 22 Movable wall, 24 Handle frame, 26 Spacer, 28 Inclined surface, 30 Protector, 30a Body, 30b Edge, 30s Outer surface of corner, 32 Lock, 33 Latch mechanism, 34 Opening, 36 Lever, 38 Pin, 40 Bell crank, 42 Fulcrum, 43 One end (lower end), 46 The other end (upper end), 60 Rod, 64 Shaft, 66 Claw, 70 Door striker.

Claims

【Claim 1】 A door handle disposed outside the outer panel of the door, A handle frame disposed inside the outer panel of the door and connected to the door handle with the outer panel of the door interposed therebetween, A lock disposed inside the handle frame in the vehicle width direction, the lock having a latch mechanism that engages a door striker provided on a vehicle body panel forming a door opening and a lever that operates the latch mechanism, A bell crank having a fulcrum on the handle frame, and When the door handle is pulled outward of the vehicle body, the pulling force is transmitted to one end of the bell crank, and the other end of the bell crank pushes down the lever of the lock via a rod, so that the engagement of the door striker in the latch mechanism of the lock is released. A side door of a vehicle configured as such, A spacer disposed between the handle frame and the lock and fixed to the handle frame, A protector composed of a bent plate member that covers a part of the lock on the spacer side and has a corner outer surface that is the outer surface of the bent portion of the plate member, and further comprising, The spacer includes an inclined surface facing obliquely downward and facing the corner outer surface of the protector, A side door of a vehicle, characterized by the above.

Images