Door handle device for vehicle

Abstract

To provide a door handle device for a vehicle, which can improve operability.SOLUTION: A door handle device 10 for a vehicle comprises: a case body 20 configured to enable a user to insert a finger inside through a panel opening 531 of an outer panel 53 of a vehicle door 50; a flap 24 having a finger hook 411 and a pressing part 412 integrally movable to an initial position with respect to the case body 20 and an operation position closer to a vehicle outside than the initial position; and a switch 232 configured to change a state by being pressed by the pressing part 412 when the pressing part 412 moves from the initial position to the operation position. The finger hook 411 and the switch 232 are arranged at positions shifted from each other in a vehicle width view, and the end of the pressing part 412 outside in the vehicle width direction is positioned inside the end of the finger hook 411 outside in the vehicle width direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a door handle device for a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] The vehicle door handle device disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a circuit board (carrier unit) on which a push-button switch is mounted and an operating element (handle element) having a handle recess that can be manually operated by a user, and is configured so that the door is unlocked when the switch is pressed by the handle recess. The circuit board is disposed on the interior side of the outer panel, and the handle recess is disposed on the interior side of the circuit board. The handle recess is movable in the vehicle width direction relative to the outer panel and is configured to press the switch when moved to the exterior side. Therefore, a user can insert their fingertip into the interior side of the handle recess through an opening in the outer panel, hook their fingertip on the interior side of the handle recess, and move the handle recess toward the exterior side of the vehicle, thereby pressing the switch with the exterior side of the handle recess, i.e., unlocking the door. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] US2020 / 0362604A1 Summary of the Invention

[0004] (Problem to be solved by the invention) In the vehicle door handle device disclosed in Patent Document 1, a circuit board is disposed on the interior side of the outer panel of the vehicle door, and an operating member is disposed on the interior side of the circuit board. With this configuration, the distance from the exterior side of the outer panel of the vehicle door to the interior side of the recessed portion of the operating member is large. Therefore, a user must insert their fingertip deeply into the opening in the outer panel to manually operate the operating member. This results in poor operability.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned situation, and one of the objects of the present invention is to improve the operability of a door handle device for a vehicle that is equipped with a switch that operates (switches between OFF and ON) by manually operating an operating member.

[0006] (Means for solving the problem) In order to achieve the above object, a door handle device for a vehicle according to the present invention comprises: a housing attached to an inner side in a vehicle width direction of an outer panel of a vehicle door having an opening penetrating in a vehicle width direction, the housing being configured so that a user can insert a finger therein through the opening; an operating member that is disposed inside the housing, has a finger hook portion and a pressing portion that are movable together with the housing between an initial position and an operating position that is a position on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the initial position, and is configured so that the finger hook portion and the pressing portion move from the initial position to the operating position when a user inserts a finger through the opening and hooks it on the inner surface of the finger hook portion in the vehicle width direction and pulls the finger hook portion outward in the vehicle width direction; a switch that is disposed on the outer side of the pressing portion in the vehicle width direction and is configured to be pressed by the pressing portion to switch its state when the pressing portion moves from the initial position to the operating position; Equipped with The finger grip portion and the switch are disposed at positions offset from each other when viewed in the vehicle width direction, The outer end of the pressing portion in the vehicle width direction is located more inward in the vehicle width direction than the outer end of the finger grip portion in the vehicle width direction.

[0007] In the vehicle door handle device according to the present invention, the finger hook of the operating member and the switch are positioned offset from each other when viewed in the vehicle width direction. That is, the switch is not interposed between the finger hook of the operating member and the outer panel. This reduces the distance between the finger hook of the operating member and the outer panel. This reduces the insertion depth of the user's finger when manually operating the operating member, thereby improving operability. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a vehicle door to which a vehicle door handle device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which the vehicle door handle device according to the embodiment of the present invention is attached to a vehicle door. [Figure 3A] FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a door handle device for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3B] FIG. 3B is a perspective view of a door handle device for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4A] FIG. 4A is an exploded view of a case assembly of a door handle device for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4B] FIG. 4B is an exploded view of the case assembly of the vehicle door handle device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5A] FIG. 5A is an exploded view of a cover assembly of a door handle device for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5B] FIG. 5B is an exploded view of the cover assembly of the vehicle door handle device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view (end view) of the vehicle door handle device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7A] FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view (end view) of a door handle device for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7B]FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view (end view) of the vehicle door handle device according to the embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, the front of a vehicle to which the door handle device is applied is indicated by an arrow Fr, the rear is indicated by an arrow Rr, the outer side in the vehicle width direction (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "outside side") is indicated by an arrow Out, the inner side in the vehicle width direction (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "inside side") is indicated by an arrow In, the upper side is indicated by an arrow Up, and the lower side is indicated by an arrow Dw. In the following description, the directions of the door handle device and its components and their relative positions are based on the respective directions of the vehicle. In each drawing, a door handle device applied to a right front vehicle door is shown as an example. A door handle device applied to a left front vehicle door has a shape that is approximately mirror-symmetrical to the door handle device shown in each drawing.

[0010] <Vehicle door configuration example> FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of a vehicle door 50 to which a door handle device 10 is applied, as viewed from the vehicle exterior. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the door handle device 10 attached to the vehicle door 50. In this embodiment, the door handle device is applied to a driver's door. The vehicle door 50 is a swing-type door that opens and closes by rotating around its front end relative to the vehicle body. The vehicle door 50 includes a door main body 51 that forms its lower half and a door sash 52 that is provided in its upper half. The door main body 51 includes an outer panel 53 that forms its outer surface, an inner panel (not shown) that is fixed to the interior side of the outer panel 53, and a resin trim (not shown) that is fixed to the inner surface of the inner panel and forms the interior surface of the door main body 51. A panel opening 531 is provided near the rear end and the upper end of the outer panel 53. The panel opening 531 is a through-hole that is elongated in the front-to-rear direction and penetrates in the vehicle width direction.

[0011] In addition to the door handle device 10, a door lock device 54 is disposed in the door main body 51. The latch mechanism of the door lock device 54 is configured to be switchable between a latched state in which the vehicle door 50 is not allowed to be opened and an unlatched state in which the vehicle door 50 is allowed to be opened, by the driving force of a driving force source and manual operation by a user. Furthermore, the door lock device 54 is configured to be switchable between an unlocked state in which the latch mechanism is allowed to be switched from the latched state to the unlatched state, and a locked state in which the switching is not allowed. The vehicle is also equipped with an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) that controls the door lock device 54. Note that the configurations of the door lock device 54 and the ECU are not limited, and conventionally known configurations can be applied.

[0012] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the door handle device 10 is mounted on the inside of the outer panel 53 when viewed in the vehicle width direction, at a position overlapping the panel opening 531, specifically near the rear end and near the upper end of the outer panel 53.

[0013] <Configuration of door handle device> Figures 3A and 3B are perspective views showing the configuration of the door handle device 10. Figures 4A and 4B are exploded views showing the configuration of the case assembly 11 of the door handle device 10. Figures 5A and 5B are exploded views showing the configuration of the cover assembly 12. The door handle device 10 includes the case assembly 11 attached to the inner side of the outer panel 53, and the cover assembly 12 attached to the case assembly 11 from the outer side of the outer panel 53.

[0014] The case assembly 11 includes a case body 20 , an inner cover 21 , an outer peripheral pad 22 , a switch assembly 23 , a flap 24 , and a key cylinder 25 .

[0015] The case body 20 is a member that forms the housing of the door handle device 10 and is fixed to the interior side of the outer panel 53 of the vehicle door 50. The case body 20 includes a frame portion 201, a storage portion 202, and a key cylinder attachment portion 203. The case body 20 is made of a resin material, and the above-mentioned portions are integrally formed.

[0016] The frame portion 201 is a portion that is arranged so as to overlap the panel opening 531 when viewed in the vehicle width direction. When viewed in the vehicle width direction, the frame portion 201 has a shape that is long in the front-rear direction, specifically, has approximately the same shape as the panel opening 531.

[0017] The storage section 202 is configured to be able to store a flap 24, a switch assembly 23, and a guide member 31 of a cover assembly 12, which will be described later. The storage section 202 has a rectangular cylindrical shape (which can also be called a box shape with both ends open in the vehicle width direction) that penetrates in the vehicle width direction. An upper portion 204 of the storage section 202 (which corresponds to the upper plate, front plate, and rear plate of the rectangular tube or box) is provided so as to extend from the upper end portion (which can also be called the upper edge) of the frame section 201 or its vicinity, toward the interior of the vehicle and diagonally upward. A lower portion 205 of the storage section 202 (which corresponds to the lower plate of the rectangular tube or box) is provided so as to extend from the lower end portion (which can also be called the lower edge) of the frame section 201 or its vicinity, toward the interior of the vehicle and diagonally upward.

[0018] The upper part 204 of the accommodating section 202 is configured to rotatably support the flap 24, which will be described later, via a flap support shaft 245. Specifically, a rear shaft hole 206, which is a through-hole that is approximately parallel to the front-to-rear direction and through which the flap support shaft 245 can be inserted from the rear side, is provided at the rear end of the upper part 204 of the accommodating section 202. Furthermore, a protruding support shaft attachment portion 207 that protrudes toward the interior of the vehicle is provided at the interior surface of the upper part 204 of the accommodating section 202. A front shaft hole 208, which is a hole coaxial with the rear shaft hole 206 and through which the tip end (front end) of the flap support shaft 245 can be inserted (or inserted) is provided in this support shaft attachment portion 207.

[0019] Furthermore, a first stopper 401 and a second stopper 402 that define the movable range of the flap 24 are provided on the upper portion 204 of the storage portion 202. The first stopper 401 and the second stopper 402 are protruding portions that protrude from the interior surface of the upper portion 204 of the storage portion 202 toward the interior of the vehicle. The first stopper 401 is provided in a position overlapping the vicinity of the lower end and the front end of the finger hook portion 411 of the operating member 15 as viewed in the vehicle width direction. The second stopper 402 is provided behind the first stopper 401 in a position overlapping the vicinity of the lower end and the rear end of the finger hook portion 411 of the operating member 15 as viewed in the vehicle width direction. The protruding dimension of the first stopper 401 is greater than the protruding dimension of the second stopper 402. In other words, the interior end of the first stopper 401 is located more interior than the interior end of the second stopper 402. The specific functions of the first stopper 401 and the second stopper 402 will be described later.

[0020] Key cylinder attachment portion 203 is a portion configured to allow attachment of key cylinder 25. Key cylinder attachment portion 203 is provided at or near the rear end of frame portion 201, rearward of accommodating portion 202. Key cylinder attachment portion 203 has a cylindrical configuration that extends from frame portion 201 toward the interior of the vehicle and diagonally downward.

[0021] The inner cover 21 is a member that is attached to the vehicle interior side of the storage portion 202 of the case main body 20. The inner cover 21 has a generally plate-like configuration. When the inner cover 21 is attached to the vehicle interior side of the storage portion 202, the opening of the storage portion 202 on the vehicle interior side is closed.

[0022] The outer peripheral pad 22 is a member attached to the outer side of the frame portion 201. The outer peripheral pad 22 is a frame-shaped portion provided with an opening (a through-hole that penetrates in the vehicle width direction) that has approximately the same shape and size as the panel opening 531. The outer peripheral pad 22 is disposed on the inner side of the outer panel 53 so as to follow the inner peripheral edge of the panel opening 531.

[0023] The switch assembly 23 includes a base member 231, a switch 232, a light source 233, and a light-guiding member 234. The base member 231 is a member to which the switch 232, the light source 233, and the light-guiding member 234 are attached. The switch 232 is a normally-open push button switch that changes its state from OFF to ON when the push button is pressed. The light source 233 and the light-guiding member 234 are configured to emit light into the internal space of a fingertip guide portion 312 of the guide member 31, which will be described later. The switch assembly 23 is fixed to the interior surface of the upper portion 204 of the accommodation portion 202 of the case main body 20. The switch assembly 23 is arranged so that the push button of the switch 232 faces the interior of the vehicle (so that the state changes from OFF to ON when the push button is pressed from the interior of the vehicle). The switch assembly 23 is also arranged in front of the flap 24. The switch 232 and the light source 233 of the switch assembly 23 are connected to the ECU.

[0024] The flap 24 is an example of an operating member of the present invention, and is a member that can be manually operated by a user. The flap 24 is attached to the case body 20 so as to be movable between an initial position and an operating position, which will be described later. The flap 24 is configured so that when it is located in the initial position, it does not press the push button of the switch 232 of the switch assembly 23, and when it is located in the operating position, it presses the push button of the switch 232. The flap 24 includes a finger hook portion 411, a pressing portion 412, a support shaft mounting portion 413, and a third stopper 414. The flap 24 is a member formed by injection molding of a resin material, and the above-mentioned portions are formed integrally.

[0025] Finger hook portion 411 is a portion having a box-like shape (which can also be called a shell-like shape that is open on the interior side and bottom side) that is closed on the exterior side, top side, front side, and rear side. Specifically, finger hook portion 411 has side plate portion 415, front plate portion 416, rear plate portion 417, and upper plate portion 418, all of which are substantially plate-shaped. Side plate portion 415 is a plate-like portion that extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the vehicle width direction. A protrusion portion 419 is provided at the lower end of side plate portion 415. Protrusion portion 419 is a protruding portion that protrudes toward the interior side of the vehicle and extends in the front-to-rear direction along the lower end (lower edge) of side plate portion 415. Front plate portion 416 is a substantially flat plate-like portion that extends from the front end (front edge) of side plate portion 415 toward the interior side of the vehicle. Rear plate 417 is a generally flat plate-shaped portion that extends from the rear end (rear edge) of side plate 415 toward the vehicle interior. Front plate 416 and rear plate 417 have a flat plate-shaped configuration that extends in the vertical direction and the vehicle width direction. Therefore, the cross-sectional shape of finger hook 411 cut by a plane perpendicular to the vertical direction is a generally U-shaped (or roughly U-shaped) shape that opens toward the vehicle interior (see FIG. 6). Upper plate 418 is a generally flat plate-shaped portion that extends from the upper end (upper edge) of side plate 415 toward the vehicle interior.

[0026] The pressing portion 412 is a portion for switching the state of the switch 232 of the switch assembly 23. The pressing portion 412 has a rod-like configuration that protrudes substantially forward from the inner end and lower end of the front plate portion 416 (or from the vicinity thereof).

[0027] The support shaft attachment portion 413 is a portion configured to be able to attach the flap support shaft 245, and is provided above the finger hook portion 411. Specifically, the support shaft attachment portion 413 has a protrusion-like configuration that protrudes upward from the side plate portion 415 and the upper plate portion 418. The support shaft attachment portion 413 is provided with a shaft hole that is a through-hole that penetrates substantially in the front-to-rear direction and through which the flap support shaft 245 can be inserted.

[0028] The third stopper 414 is a portion that defines the movable range of the flap 24. The third stopper 414 has a plate-like configuration that extends rearward from the rear plate portion 417 and extends in a direction approximately perpendicular to the vehicle width direction. The function of the third stopper 414 will be described later.

[0029] The flap 24 is disposed inside the storage section 202 of the case body 20 (on the vehicle interior side of the upper portion 204 of the storage section 202) and is rotatably supported relative to the case body 20 via a flap support shaft 245. Specifically, the flap support shaft 245 is inserted from the rear side through the shaft hole of the support shaft attachment portion 413 of the flap 24 and the rear shaft hole 206 and the front shaft hole 208 of the storage section 202. A metal round bar is used for the flap support shaft 245. The center line (axis) of the flap support shaft 245 is approximately parallel to the front-rear direction, so that the flap 24 can rotate relative to the case body 20 about the axis that is approximately parallel to the front-rear direction. The finger hook 411 of the flap 24 is located below the flap support shaft 245, so that the finger hook 411 can move back and forth approximately in the vehicle width direction while swinging like a pendulum around the flap support shaft 245.

[0030] The flap 24 can be moved between an initial position and an operating position by rotating with respect to the case body 20. The initial position is a position when the finger hook portion 411 is located at the inner end of its movable range. The initial position can also be defined as a position when the finger hook portion 411 is located farthest from the outer panel 53. Specifically, the initial position is a position where the third stopper 414 of the flap 24 contacts the outer surface of the inner cover 21. The operating position is a position when the finger hook portion 411 is located at the outer end of its movable range. The operating position can also be defined as a position when the finger hook portion 411 is closest to the outer panel 53. Specifically, the operating position is a position where the outer surface of the finger hook portion 411 of the flap 24 contacts at least one of the first stopper 401 and the second stopper 402.

[0031] The flap 24 is constantly elastically biased toward the initial position by the flap biasing member 246. Therefore, when no external force other than that from the flap biasing member 246 is applied to the flap 24, the flap 24 is held in the initial position by the biasing force of the flap biasing member 246. A torsion coil spring with arms provided at both ends is used for the flap biasing member 246. The flap 24 is disposed such that the flap support shaft 245 is inserted through the coiled portion of the torsion coil spring, with one arm contacting the case main body 20 and the other arm contacting the flap 24. The flap biasing member 246 is disposed near the rear end of the flap 24, i.e., near the end opposite the side on which the pressing portion 412 is provided in the front-rear direction.

[0032] The key cylinder 25 is a component that can be manually operated by a user using a suitable key. The key cylinder 25 is mechanically linked to the door lock device 54 so as to be switchable between a locked state, which does not allow the latch mechanism of the door lock device 54 to switch from a latched state to an unlatched state, and an unlocked state, which allows the latch mechanism to switch from a latched state to an unlatched state. The configuration of the key cylinder 25 and the configuration of the link between the key cylinder 25 and the door lock device 54 are not limited, and any conventionally known configuration can be applied. The key cylinder 25 is supported by the case body 20 by being inserted into the cylindrical interior of the key cylinder attachment portion 203.

[0033] The cover assembly 12 includes an exterior member 30 and a guide member 31 .

[0034] The exterior member 30 is a member located on the outermost side of the door handle device 10 and forms part of the exterior appearance of the door handle device 10. The exterior member 30 is a plate-like member having substantially the same shape as the panel opening 531 when viewed in the vehicle width direction, and is configured to be able to fit into the panel opening 531 of the vehicle door 50. The exterior member 30 is provided with a fingertip insertion hole 301 into which a user can insert their fingertip from outside the vehicle. The fingertip insertion hole 301 is a through-hole that is elongated in the front-rear direction and penetrates in the vehicle width direction. When the exterior member 30 is attached to the outer panel 53 of the vehicle door 50, the exterior surface of the exterior member 30 is exposed to the exterior of the vehicle through the panel opening 531 so that it is substantially flush with the exterior surface of the outer panel 53 of the vehicle door 50.

[0035] The guide member 31 is a member that forms the housing of the door handle device 10. The guide member 31 is a member to which the exterior member 30 is attached. The guide member 31 includes a main body portion 311, a fingertip guide portion 312, and a key cover attachment portion 313. The main body portion 311 is a portion that is disposed on the interior side of the exterior member 30 so as to overlap the exterior member 30, and has a plate-like outer shape that is approximately the same shape and size as the exterior member 30. Furthermore, the main body portion 311 is provided with an opening that is approximately the same shape and size as the fingertip insertion hole 301 of the exterior member 30.

[0036] Fingertip guide portion 312 is a portion for guiding the user's fingertip inserted through panel opening 531 into storage portion 202 of case main body 20 (more specifically, the vehicle interior surface of finger hook portion 411 of flap 24 disposed inside storage portion 202). Fingertip guide portion 312 is a portion provided so as to extend from the vicinity of the lower end portion (vicinity of the lower edge) of main body portion 311 toward the vehicle interior and diagonally upward. Fingertip guide portion 312 has a shallow box-like configuration (which can also be called a tray-like configuration) that is open on the vehicle exterior side, top side, and rear side, and closed on the bottom side and front side. Fingertip guide portion 312 is provided with an inclined surface (guide surface) facing the vehicle exterior on the upper side and sloping upward toward the vehicle interior.

[0037] Key cover attachment portion 313 is a portion configured to allow key cover 32 to be attached and detached, and is provided behind fingertip guide portion 312 and near the rear end of guide member 31. Key cover attachment portion 313 is, for example, a plate-shaped portion provided with a through-hole that penetrates in the vehicle width direction (or it can be said to be a frame-shaped portion provided with an opening on the inner periphery).

[0038] The key cover 32 is a member that covers (in other words, hides) the end face of the key cylinder 25 (the face where the key hole is provided) by being placed on the vehicle exterior side of the end face (face where the key hole is provided) of the key cylinder 25 that is attached to the key cylinder attachment portion 203 of the case body 20. The key cover 32 is also a member that can be attached and detached to the key cover attachment portion 313. For example, the key cover 32 has a flat plate shape and is configured to be attachable and detachable to the key cover attachment portion 313 by a snap-fit ​​structure.

[0039] <Door handle device operation> Next, the operation of the door handle device 10 will be described. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the door handle device 10 taken along a plane approximately perpendicular to the up-down direction. Figs. 7A and 7B are cross-sectional views (end views) of the door handle device 10 taken along a plane approximately perpendicular to the front-rear direction. Fig. 7A is a cross-sectional view (end view) taken along arrows VIIA-VIIA in Fig. 6, and Fig. 7B is a cross-sectional view (end view) taken along arrows VIIB-VIIB in Fig. 6. In Fig. 6, the flap 24 positioned in the initial position is indicated by a solid line, and the flap 24 positioned in the operating position is indicated by a two-dot chain line.

[0040] The door handle device 10 is attached to an outer panel 53 of a vehicle door 50. The flap 24 is located on the vehicle interior side of the outer panel 53 of the vehicle door 50, above a panel opening 531 of the outer panel 53 so that a user can place their fingertips therethrough from below.

[0041] When the flap 24 is in the initial position, the pressing portion 412 is separated from the switch 232 of the switch assembly 23 toward the vehicle interior, and the push button of the switch 232 is not pressed. Therefore, when the flap 24 is in the initial position, the state of the switch 232 is maintained in the OFF state. When the flap 24 moves from the initial position toward the operating position, the pressing portion 412 presses the push button of the switch 232. Then, when the flap 24 is in the operating position, the push button of the switch 232 is pressed by the pressing portion 412, and the state of the switch 232 becomes ON.

[0042] A user inserts a fingertip into the panel opening 531 of the outer panel 53 with the palm facing upward and places the fingertip from below on the protruding portion 419 provided at the lower end of the finger hook portion 411 of the flap 24. Then, when the user pulls the finger hook portion 411 toward the outside of the vehicle, the finger hook portion 411 moves toward the outside of the vehicle against the biasing force of the flap biasing member 246. As a result, the pressing portion 412 moves toward the outside of the vehicle together with the finger hook portion 411 and presses the push button of the switch 232 assembled to the switch assembly 23. This switches the state of the switch 232 from OFF to ON. When the ECU detects that the state of the switch 232 has switched from OFF to ON, it switches the door lock device 54 from the latched state to the unlatched state. The user can open the vehicle door 50 by simply pulling the finger hook portion 411 toward the outside of the vehicle. When the user removes the fingertip from the finger hook 411, the flap 24 moves to the initial position due to the biasing force of the flap biasing member 246, and the state of the switch 232 changes from ON to OFF.

[0043] As described above, the door handle device 10 is configured so that a user can insert a fingertip through the panel opening 531 of the outer panel 53, hook the fingertip on the finger hook portion 411 (more specifically, the protruding portion 419 of the finger hook portion 411), and pull out the finger hook portion 411. In such a configuration, from the viewpoint of operability, it is required that the distance from the surface of the outer panel 53 facing the vehicle exterior to the surface of the finger hook portion 411 facing the vehicle interior (hereinafter, this may be referred to as the "insertion distance") be short. In other words, if this insertion distance is short, the user can sufficiently hook the fingertip on the finger hook portion 411 without inserting the fingertip deep into the panel opening 531. Therefore, the shorter the insertion distance, the better the operability.

[0044] In this embodiment, the finger hook 411 and the switch assembly 23 are positioned at positions offset from each other when viewed in the vehicle width direction (positions where they do not overlap each other when viewed in the vehicle width direction). The interior surface of the finger hook 411 of the flap 24 is positioned on the exterior side of the vehicle relative to the switch 232. With this configuration, the insertion distance can be reduced. That is, with a configuration in which the finger hook 411 and the switch assembly 23 are positioned so as to overlap each other when viewed in the vehicle width direction, the switch assembly 23 is interposed between the outer panel 53 and the finger hook 411. With this configuration, the insertion distance is increased by the vehicle width dimension of the switch assembly 23. In contrast, in this embodiment, the flap 24 does not interfere with the switch assembly 23, and the interior surface of the finger hook 411 can be positioned close to the exterior surface of the outer panel 53.

[0045] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6 , finger hook 411 has a cross section taken along a plane approximately perpendicular to the up-down direction that is approximately U-shaped (or may be referred to as approximately U-shaped) that opens toward the interior side of the vehicle. Pressing portion 412 protrudes approximately forward from the interior end of front plate 416 (or from the vicinity thereof). In this manner, pressing portion 412 is provided at a position offset toward the interior side of the vehicle from the interior surface of side plate 415 of finger hook 411. Switch 232 of switch assembly 23 (more specifically, the interior end of the push button of switch 232) is also disposed at a position offset toward the interior side of the vehicle from the interior surface of side plate 415 of finger hook 411. With this configuration, the insertion distance is shorter than in a configuration in which finger hook 411 and switch assembly 23 are disposed at positions that overlap each other when viewed in the vehicle width direction. This configuration is achieved by positioning the finger hook portion 411 and the switch assembly 23 at offset positions when viewed in the vehicle width direction (positioning them so that they do not overlap each other), and by positioning the inside surface of the finger hook portion 411 of the flap 24 on the outside of the vehicle relative to the switch 232.

[0046] As described above, according to this embodiment, the insertion distance can be reduced, making it easier for the user to place his / her fingertip on the finger hook portion 411. That is, the operability of the door handle device 10 is improved. Furthermore, the insertion distance can be reduced, making it possible to reduce the area of ​​the panel opening 531 provided in the outer panel 53. In particular, it is possible to prevent the vertical dimension of the panel opening 531 from becoming large. Therefore, the aesthetic appearance (design) of the vehicle door 50 can be improved.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 6 , the cross section of the finger hook 411 of the flap 24, taken along a plane perpendicular to the up-down direction, is generally U-shaped and opens toward the interior of the vehicle. Therefore, compared to a configuration in which the finger hook 411 of the flap 24 is generally flat, the rigidity of the finger hook 411 can be increased, making it less likely to bend. This increases the reliability of switching the state of the switch 232. Specifically, a reaction force from the push button of the switch 232 toward the interior of the vehicle acts on the pressing portion 412. If this reaction force causes the finger hook 411 to bend, the stroke (movement distance) of the pressing portion 412 when the flap 24 moves from the initial position to the operating position becomes smaller. As a result, the state of the switch 232 may not be switched from OFF to ON. In this embodiment, the finger hook 411 can be prevented or suppressed from being bent, thereby preventing or suppressing the stroke of the pressing portion 412 from becoming smaller. The finger hook 411 includes an upper plate 418 extending toward the vehicle interior from the upper end of the side plate 415. Therefore, the upper plate 418 can further increase the rigidity of the finger hook 411.

[0048] Furthermore, a protrusion 419 that protrudes toward the vehicle interior is provided at the lower end of the finger hook 411. With this configuration, the user can hook their fingertip onto the protrusion 419, making it easier to apply a "force to pull the finger hook 411 of the flap 24 toward the vehicle exterior." This improves operability.

[0049] In the present embodiment, the switch 232 is disposed at a position offset to the front of the flap 24, but the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. For example, the switch 232 may be disposed at a position offset to the rear of the flap 24. That is, as long as the flap 24 is configured to rotate about axes that are substantially parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, a configuration in which the switch 232 and the flap 24 are disposed at positions offset from each other in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle (in other words, in a direction substantially parallel to the rotation center line of the flap 24) can be applied.

[0050] However, it is preferable that the switch 232 be positioned in a position shifted forward of the flap 24. The reason for this is as follows: The door handle device 10 disposed on the right door is intended to be operated with the right hand, and the door handle device 10 disposed on the left door is intended to be operated with the left hand. Since the fingertips are inserted with the palm facing upward, the index finger touches the side of the finger hook 411 closer to the side where the pressing portion 412 is provided. Because the "force to pull out the flap 24" by the index finger is greater than the "force to pull out the flap 24" by the little finger, the distance between the "position on the finger hook 411 where the user's finger applies a greater force" and the pressing portion 412 can be reduced. The smaller this distance, the less the flap 24 is deflected by the reaction force from the switch 232 (specifically, the deflection that displaces the pressing portion 412 toward the interior of the vehicle relative to the finger hook 411). Therefore, the flap 24 is less likely to bend, which prevents or suppresses a decrease in the stroke of the pressing portion 412. It can also be said that the difference between the stroke of the "position where the user's finger applies a larger force" in the finger hook portion 411 and the stroke of the pressing portion 412 can be reduced. This ensures a reliable switching operation of the switch 232.

[0051] Moreover, the pressing portion 412 is provided at the lower end of the finger hook 411. With this configuration, it is possible to improve the reliability of the operation of the switch 232. That is, if the flap 24 is configured to be rotatably supported with respect to the case body 20 above the finger hook 411, the stroke of the pressing portion 412 when the flap 24 is operated becomes larger toward the lower side of the finger hook 411 (that is, the greater the distance from the center of rotation with respect to the case body 20). Therefore, it becomes easier to ensure the stroke of the pressing portion 412 required to switch the state of the switch 232, and it is possible to improve the reliability of the switching operation of the switch 232.

[0052] Here, the first stopper 401 and the second stopper 402 of the case main body 20 will be described. The first stopper 401 and the second stopper 402 are provided spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction. The first stopper 401 is provided at a position overlapping the vicinity of the front end of the flap 24 when viewed in the vehicle width direction. The second stopper 402 is provided behind the first stopper 401 at a position overlapping the vicinity of the rear end of the flap 24. In other words, the first stopper 401 is closer to the pressing portion 412 than the second stopper 402.

[0053] When the flap 24 is located in the initial position, the exterior surface of the finger hook 411 of the flap 24 is spaced toward the interior side of the vehicle from the interior ends of the first stopper 401 and the second stopper 402. The distance between the exterior surface of the finger hook 411 of the flap 24 and the first stopper 401 is smaller than the distance between the exterior surface of the finger hook 411 of the flap 24 and the second stopper 402. Therefore, when the flap 24 moves toward the exterior side of the vehicle from the initial position without bending or rattling the flap 24, the exterior surface of the finger hook 411 of the flap 24 contacts the first stopper 401 without contacting the second stopper 402. Further movement of the flap 24 toward the exterior side of the vehicle is restricted by the first stopper 401. The position of the flap 24 when the first stopper 401 contacts the interior surface of the storage portion 202 is the operating position.

[0054] When the user operates flap 24, the reaction force from switch 232 applied to pressing portion 412 acts as a moment that moves pressing portion 412 and finger hook 411 toward the vehicle interior, centered on the position where the user's finger is touching. Therefore, if the force of the user pulling out finger hook 411 is applied largely to a position near the rear of finger hook 411, this moment becomes large, and flap 24 is likely to bend in such a way that the pressing portion 412 and the front portion of finger hook 411 are displaced toward the vehicle interior relative to the rear portion of finger hook 411. Therefore, if the distance between the vehicle exterior side surface of finger hook 411 of flap 24 and first stopper 401 is the same as the distance between the vehicle exterior side surface of finger hook 411 of flap 24 and second stopper 402, when a large force by the user to pull out finger hook 411 is applied to a rearward position of finger hook 411, even if the vehicle exterior side surface of finger hook 411 of flap 24 comes into contact with second stopper 402, the vehicle exterior side surface of finger hook 411 of flap 24 may not come into contact with first stopper 401 due to the deflection of flap 24. In this case, finger hook 411 cannot move any further toward the vehicle exterior, so the stroke of pressing portion 412 becomes smaller, and as a result, there is a risk that the state of switch 232 will not change from ON to OFF.

[0055] In this embodiment, the distance between the exterior surface of the finger hook 411 of the flap 24 and the second stopper 402 is greater than the distance between the exterior surface of the finger hook 411 of the flap 24 and the first stopper 401. With this configuration, when the flap 24 is bent as described above, the stroke of the rear portion of the finger hook 411 is greater than the stroke of the front portion of the finger hook 411 and the pressing portion 412. Therefore, the force of the user pulling out the finger hook 411 is applied more strongly to the rear portion of the finger hook 411. As a result, even when the flap 24 is bent, the stroke of the pressing portion 412 required to switch the state of the switch 232 from OFF to ON can be ensured. This improves the reliability of the operation of switching the state of the switch 232. Note that the position of the flap 24 when the second stopper 402 comes into contact is also included in the operating position of the flap 24.

[0056] Furthermore, when the deflection of the flap 24 is small, the surface of the finger hook 411 of the flap 24 facing outward from the vehicle comes into contact with the first stopper 401 before coming into contact with the second stopper 402. When the surface of the finger hook 411 of the flap 24 facing outward from the vehicle comes into contact with the first stopper 401, the movement of the pressing portion 412 toward the vehicle exterior is restricted. This prevents or suppresses excessive load from being applied to the switch 232.

[0057] Furthermore, the flap biasing member 246 is disposed near the rear end of the finger hook 411. This configuration improves the reliability of the operation of switching the state of the switch 232. That is, when the flap biasing member 246 is provided near the front (the end closer to the pressing portion 412), the biasing force of the flap biasing member 246 acts as a moment that displaces the pressing portion 412 and the finger hook 411 toward the interior of the vehicle, centered on the position where the user places their fingertip. As a result, the flap 24 is likely to bend in such a way that the front portions of the pressing portion 412 and the finger hook 411 are displaced toward the interior of the vehicle relative to the rear portions of the finger hook 411. If this bending becomes large, the stroke of the pressing portion 412 becomes small, which may result in the switch 232 not being able to be switched from OFF to ON. In contrast, if the flap biasing member 246 is configured to be disposed near the rear end of the finger hook 411 (near the end farther from the pressing portion 412), the biasing force of the flap biasing member 246 acts as a moment that displaces the pressing portion 412 and the finger hook 411 toward the outside of the vehicle, centered on the position where the user places their fingertip. As a result, the stroke of the pressing portion 412 does not become smaller (the stroke of the pressing portion 412 becomes larger).

[0058] <Summary of the embodiment> (1) The vehicle door handle device 10 according to this embodiment includes: a housing (case body 20, guide member 31) attached to the inner side in the vehicle width direction of an outer panel 53 of a vehicle door 50 having an opening (panel opening 531) penetrating in the vehicle width direction, the housing being configured so that a user can insert a finger therein through the opening (panel opening 531); an operating member (flap 24) that is arranged inside the housing (case body 20, guide member 31), and has a finger hook 411 and a pressing portion 412 that can move integrally with the housing (case body 20, guide member 31) between an initial position and an operating position that is a position on the outer side of the initial position in the vehicle width direction, and that is configured so that when a user inserts a finger through the opening (panel opening 531) and hooks the finger on the inner surface of the finger hook 411 in the vehicle width direction, and pulls the finger hook 411 outward in the vehicle width direction, the finger hook 411 and the pressing portion 412 move from the initial position to the operating position; a switch 232 that is disposed on the outer side of the pressing portion 412 in the vehicle width direction and is configured to be pressed by the pressing portion 412 to switch its state when the pressing portion 412 moves from the initial position to the operating position; Equipped with The finger grip 411 and the switch 232 are disposed at positions offset from each other when viewed in the vehicle width direction. The outer end of the pressing portion 412 in the vehicle width direction is located more inward in the vehicle width direction than the outer end of the finger grip portion 411 in the vehicle width direction.

[0059] According to this embodiment, the finger hook 411 of the operating member (flap 24) and the switch 232 are disposed at positions offset from each other when viewed in the vehicle width direction, and therefore the distance between the finger hook 411 and the outer panel 53 of the vehicle door 50 can be made smaller than in a configuration in which the finger hook 411 of the operating member (flap 24) and the switch 232 are disposed at positions overlapping each other when viewed in the vehicle width direction. That is, in a configuration in which the finger hook 411 of the operating member (flap 24) and the switch 232 are disposed at positions offset from each other when viewed in the vehicle width direction, the switch 232 does not exist between the finger hook 411 of the operating member (flap 24) and the outer panel 53 of the vehicle door 50, and therefore the finger hook 411 can be disposed close to the outer panel 53 of the vehicle door 50. Therefore, when a user inserts a fingertip from the panel opening 531 into the housing (case main body 20, guide member 31) and places the fingertip on the finger hook portion 411 in order to operate the operating member (flap 24), the insertion depth (insertion distance) of the fingertip can be reduced. This makes it possible to improve the operability of the vehicle door handle device 10. Furthermore, since the insertion depth (insertion distance) of the fingertip from the panel opening 531 of the outer panel 53 can be reduced, the dimensions (opening area) of the panel opening 531 of the outer panel 53 can be reduced. This makes it possible to improve the aesthetic appearance of the vehicle door 50 to which the vehicle door handle device 10 according to this embodiment is applied.

[0060] (2) In the vehicle door handle device 10 according to this embodiment, The operating member (flap 24) is supported rotatably with respect to the housing (case main body 20, guide member 31) about an axis that is approximately parallel to the front-rear direction of the vehicle and located above the finger hook portion 411, The finger hook 411 is located above the opening (panel opening 531) so that a user can hook their finger from below. The switch 232 is located in front of the finger hook 411 of the operating member (flap 24).

[0061] This configuration can improve the reliability of operation of the switch 232. That is, the vehicle door handle device 10 according to this embodiment is intended to be operated with the right hand when applied to a right door of a vehicle, and is intended to be operated with the left hand when applied to a left door. Therefore, whether applied to the left or right door, the user's index finger is positioned on the front side of the vehicle when operating the door handle device 10. Since the pressing portion 412 is positioned on the front side of the finger hook portion 411, a large force (a force exerted by the user's finger to move the operating member (flap 24) outward in the vehicle width direction) is applied to a position close to the pressing portion 412. Therefore, the force for pressing the push button of the switch 232 against the reaction force of the switch 232 (the biasing force for holding the push button of the switch 232 in the OFF position) is large, and the reliability of operation of the switch 232 can be improved.

[0062] Furthermore, if the pressing portion 412 is configured to be located behind the finger hook 411 (i.e., located farther from the user's index finger), the stroke (travel distance) of the pressing portion 412 may be smaller than the stroke of the rear end of the finger hook 411 due to bending or rattle (assembly play) of the operating member (flap 24). Therefore, in this case, there is a risk that the push button of the switch 232 will not be pressed. In contrast, according to this embodiment, the distance between the pressing portion 412 and the position where a large force is applied is small, and therefore deformation of the operating member (flap 24) is small, and therefore the stroke of the pressing portion 412 can be prevented or suppressed from becoming smaller. Furthermore, the influence of rattle is small. Therefore, the reliability of the operation of the switch 232 can be improved.

[0063] (3) A vehicle door handle device 10 according to this embodiment, The pressing portion 412 is a rod-shaped portion that protrudes forward from the lower end of the finger hook portion 411.

[0064] This configuration can improve the reliability of operation of switch 232. In other words, if the operating member (flap 24) is configured to be rotatably supported with respect to the housing (case body 20, guide member 31) above finger hook 411, the stroke of the operating member (flap 24) when operated increases toward the lower side of finger hook 411 (i.e., the greater the distance from the center of rotation). Therefore, the stroke of pressing portion 412 can be increased, and the reliability of operation of switch 232 can be improved.

[0065] (4) In the vehicle door handle device 10 according to this embodiment, A cross section of the finger grip portion 411 taken along a plane substantially parallel to the up-down direction has a concave shape that opens outward in the vehicle width direction.

[0066] This configuration can increase the rigidity of finger hook 411 compared to a configuration in which finger hook 411 has a simple flat plate shape. Therefore, deformation of finger hook 411 due to the reaction force received from switch 232 can be prevented or suppressed, thereby increasing the reliability of the switching operation of switch 232.

[0067] (5) In the vehicle door handle device 10 according to this embodiment, The housing (case body 20, guide member 31) is provided with a first stopper 401 and a second stopper 402 that protrude inward in the vehicle width direction, that are spaced outward in the vehicle width direction from the outer surface of the operating member (flap 24) in the vehicle width direction when the operating member (flap 24) is located at the initial position, and that come into contact with the outer surface of the operating member (flap 24) in the vehicle width direction when the operating member (flap 24) is located at the operating position, thereby positioning the operating member (flap) at the operating position, The second stopper 402 is located rearward of the first stopper 401, The distance between the second stopper 402 and the outer surface of the operating member (flap 24) in the vehicle width direction when the operating member (flap 24) is located in the initial position is greater than the distance between the first stopper 401 and the outer surface of the operating member (flap 24) in the vehicle width direction when the operating member (flap 24) is located in the initial position.

[0068] With this configuration, the stroke of the rear portion of the operating member (flap 24) can be made larger than that of the pressing portion 412 and the front portion of the finger hook 411 of the operating member (flap 24). Therefore, with this configuration, the reliability of switching the state of the switch 232 can be improved. That is, when a user operates the operating member (flap 24), a force acting toward the inside in the vehicle width direction is applied to the pressing portion 412 as a reaction force from the switch 232. Therefore, the force applied by the user's finger and the reaction force from the switch 232 may cause the operating member (flap 24) to bend such that the front portion is displaced toward the inside of the vehicle compared to the rear portion. This bending becomes larger when a force is applied to the rear portion of the finger hook 411 but not to the front portion. If this bending becomes larger, the stroke of the pressing portion 412 becomes smaller, which may prevent the state of the switch 232 from being switched.

[0069] According to this embodiment, the stroke of the rear part of the finger hook 411 can be increased, so that even if the above-described bending occurs in the operating member (flap 24), the stroke of the pressing part 412 necessary for switching the state of the switch 232 can be ensured. Furthermore, the stroke of the front part of the finger hook 411 can be ensured by the first stopper 401 to the amount necessary for switching the state of the switch 232, while preventing the stroke of the pressing part 412 from becoming excessive. Therefore, even if the stroke of the rear part of the finger hook 411 becomes large, an excessive load (pressing force) is prevented from being applied to the switch 232.

[0070] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Various modifications of the present invention are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and such modifications are also included within the technical scope of the present invention.

[0071] For example, in the above embodiment, the switch 232 is disposed at a position shifted forward of the finger hook 411 of the operating member (flap 24), but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, the switch 232 may be disposed at a position shifted rearward of the finger hook 411 of the operating member (flap 24). That is, it is sufficient that the switch 232 and the finger hook 411 of the operating member (flap 24) are disposed at positions shifted from each other in the front-rear direction (more specifically, in the direction of the rotation center line of the operating member (flap 24)).

[0072] In addition, in the above embodiment, the first stopper 401 and the second stopper are provided on the case body, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, the first stopper 401 and the second stopper may be provided on the flap 24. In this case, the first stopper and the second stopper may have a protrusion-like configuration that protrudes from the exterior surface of the finger hook toward the exterior of the vehicle. Alternatively, one of the first stopper 401 and the second stopper may be provided on the case body, and the other may be provided on the flap. [Explanation of symbols]

[0073] 10...vehicle door handle device 10, 20...case body (housing), 24...flap (operating member), 31...guide member (housing), 50...vehicle door, 53...outer panel, 232...switch, 401...first stopper, 402...second stopper, 411...finger hook portion, 412...pressing portion, 531...panel opening 531

Claims

1. a housing attached to an inner side in a vehicle width direction of an outer panel of a vehicle door having an opening penetrating in a vehicle width direction, the housing being configured so that a user can insert a finger therein through the opening; an operating member that is disposed inside the housing, has a finger hook portion and a pressing portion that are movable together with the housing between an initial position and an operating position that is a position on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the initial position, and is configured so that the finger hook portion and the pressing portion move from the initial position to the operating position when a user inserts a finger through the opening and hooks it on the inner surface of the finger hook portion in the vehicle width direction and pulls the finger hook portion outward in the vehicle width direction; a switch that is disposed on the outer side of the pressing portion in the vehicle width direction and is configured to be pressed by the pressing portion to switch its state when the pressing portion moves from the initial position to the operating position; Equipped with The finger grip portion and the switch are disposed at positions offset from each other when viewed in the vehicle width direction, A door handle device for a vehicle, wherein an outer end of the pressing portion in a vehicle width direction is located more inward in the vehicle width direction than an outer end of the finger hook portion in the vehicle width direction.

2. 2. The vehicle door handle device according to claim 1, the operating member is supported rotatably with respect to the housing about an axis that is substantially parallel to the front-rear direction of the vehicle and is located above the finger grip portion, the finger hook is located above the opening so that a user can hook a finger from below, The switch is located in front of the finger grip portion of the operating member.

3. 3. The vehicle door handle device according to claim 2, The pressing portion is a rod-shaped portion that protrudes forward from a lower end of the finger hook.

4. In the vehicle door handle device according to the present embodiment described in claim 2, A door handle device for a vehicle, wherein a cross section of the finger grip portion taken along a plane substantially parallel to the up-down direction has a concave shape that opens outward in the vehicle width direction.

5. 3. The vehicle door handle device according to claim 2, the housing includes a first stopper and a second stopper that protrude inward in the vehicle width direction, that are spaced outward in the vehicle width direction from the outer surface of the operating member in the vehicle width direction when the operating member is located at the initial position, and that come into contact with the outer surface of the operating member in the vehicle width direction when the operating member is located at the operating position, thereby positioning the operating member at the operating position; The second stopper is located rearward of the first stopper, A door handle device for a vehicle, wherein the distance between the second stopper and the outer surface of the operating member in the vehicle width direction when the operating member is located in the initial position is greater than the distance between the first stopper and the outer surface of the operating member in the vehicle width direction when the operating member is located in the initial position.

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