Handle device

Abstract

To provide a handle device capable of maintaining an accurate rotational position without increasing the number of component parts or enlarging the device.SOLUTION: A handle main body 10 is displaced to a storage position where it is stored inside a door and to a projection position where a part of it is projected from the door, and can further be displaced to an operation position, in which an action face 14 is separated from a cam face 22, by being gripped and moved against a biasing force of a biasing member 30 from the projection position. A cam 20 includes a displacement region A1 in which a distance from a center of rotation O2 to the cam face 22 gradually changes and the handle main body 10 is pushed from the storage position to the projection position, and a holding region A2 in which the distance from the center of rotation O2 to the cam face 22 is constant and the handle main body 10 is held in the projection position. In the holding region A2, a tangent line La at a contact point P where the action face 14 of the handle main body 10 makes contact and a straight line Lb passing through the center of rotation O2 and the contact point P are orthogonal.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Flush surface door handles are available for vehicles, in which the handle body is stored inside the door when the vehicle is in motion, making the exterior surface of the door flush with the surface of the handle body, from the standpoint of improving appearance and aerodynamics.

[0003] Such flush surface handles include a rotating type that has a handle body with a rotation axis at one longitudinal end and a cam that is rotated by a motor, and when in use, the cam is rotated by the motor, causing the handle body, which is in a stored position, to rotate to a protruding position protruding from the door plane (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0004] A rotating flush surface handle unlocks the door when the user grips the handle body from the extended position and rotates it further to the unlocked position. The handle body has a spring that biases it from the unlocked position to the extended position, and when the user performs the unlocking operation and releases the handle body, the biasing force of the spring returns the handle body to the extended position. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Special Publication No. 2014-522926 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] When a user grips such a flush handle and rotates it from the extended position to the unlocked position, the handle body moves away from the cam. Therefore, if the handle body is configured to be directly pressed by the cam surface of the cam, when the user releases the handle body in the unlocked position, the spring-biased force causes the handle body to rotate and collide with the cam. This impact applies force in the direction of rotation of the cam, causing it to rotate. Therefore, even if a motor is used to rotate the cam to extend the handle body from the retracted position to the extended position, the handle body may not fully extend, or the cam may not be able to hold the handle body in the correct extended position.

[0007] Therefore, in conventional handle devices, as in Patent Document 1, a member such as an arm member is interposed between the handle body and the cam so that the handle body does not directly collide with the cam even when it returns from the unlocked position to the extended position due to the biasing force of the spring. However, this handle structure requires a member interposed between the handle device and the cam, which increases the number of components and also increases the size of the entire handle device.

[0008] The present invention provides a handle device that can maintain an accurate rotational position without increasing the number of components or increasing the size. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The present invention comprises the following configurations. A handle device for operating a door latch provided on a vehicle door, a handle body rotatably supported within the door; a cam having a cam surface against which an operating surface provided on the handle body abuts; and a biasing member that biases the handle body to cause the operating surface to abut against the cam surface, The handle body is displaced between a storage position where it is stored within the door and a protruding position where a part of it protrudes from the door and can be grasped by rotating the cam and causing the cam surface and the operating surface to slide in contact with each other, and is also displaceable from the protruding position to an operating position where the operating surface moves away from the cam surface and activates the door latch by being grasped against the biasing force of the biasing member, The cam includes a displacement region in which the distance from the rotation center to the cam surface changes stepwise, allowing the handle body to be pushed from the storage position to the protruding position, and a holding region in which the distance from the rotation center to the cam surface is constant, and the operating surface of the handle body returned from the operating position by the biasing member comes into contact with the cam surface, thereby holding the handle body at the protruding position, In the holding area, a tangent line at a contact point where the working surface of the handle body contacts is perpendicular to a line passing through the rotation center and the contact point. Handle device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a handle device that can maintain an accurate rotational position without increasing the number of components or increasing the size. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a handle device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a handle body and a cam that constitute the handle device. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a front view of the handle device. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a top view of the handle device. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a rear view of the handle device. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the positions of the cam and the operating surface when the handle body is placed in the protruding position. [Figure 7]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the handle device with the handle body disposed in the protruding position. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the handle device with the handle body placed at the operating position. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the positions of the cam and the operating surface when the handle body is placed in the operating position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the arrow FR indicates the front of the vehicle, the arrow BC indicates the rear of the vehicle, the arrow UP indicates the top of the vehicle, the arrow DW indicates the bottom of the vehicle, the arrow WR indicates the right of the vehicle, and the arrow WL indicates the left of the vehicle.

[0013] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a handle device 100 according to this embodiment. Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a handle body 10 and a cam 20 that constitute the handle device 100. Fig. 3 is a front view of the handle device 100. Fig. 4 is a top view of the handle device 100. Fig. 5 is a rear view of the handle device 100.

[0014] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, a handle device 100 according to this embodiment is assembled to a door panel 2 having an opening 1 (see FIG. 2). The door panel 2 is an outer panel that constitutes a vehicle door. The handle device 100 is a device that operates a door latch (not shown) provided on the vehicle door. In this example, the case where the handle device 100 is provided on the left door of the vehicle will be described as an example.

[0015] The handle device 100 has a handle body 10, a cam 20, and an urging member 30. The handle device 100 is a flush surface handle in which the handle body 10 is stored inside the door and the surface of the handle body 10 is flush with the exterior surface, which is the outer surface of the door panel 2. In this way, the handle device 100 has improved appearance and aerodynamic characteristics because the surface of the handle body 10 is flush with the exterior surface of the door panel 2.

[0016] The handle device 100 includes a handle base 40, to which the handle body 10, the cam 20 and the biasing member 30 are attached.

[0017] The handle base 40 has a plurality of (three in this example) fixing portions 41, and is fixed to the inside of the door panel 2 by fastening these fixing portions 41 to the door panel 2 with screws 42. The handle base 40 has a handle accommodating portion 44 having an accommodating recess 43 that accommodates the handle main body 10, and a cam support portion 45 that supports the cam 20. The handle base 40 also has an actuator accommodating portion 46 above the cam support portion 45, and this actuator accommodating portion 46 accommodates an actuator (not shown) such as a motor that rotates the cam 20. The handle base 40 also supports an operating arm 47 that is connected to the door latch.

[0018] The handle body 10 has a long, smooth plate-like portion 11. The handle body 10 has a rotation shaft 12. The handle body 10 is supported by the rotation shaft 12 relative to the handle base 40 and is rotatable about a rotation center O1 (see FIG. 2).

[0019] One end of the handle body 10 sandwiching the rotary shaft 12 is a grip portion 13. This grip portion 13 is the part that is gripped by the user when operating the handle device 100. The handle body 10 also has a pressing member 15 having an action surface 14 on the other end thereof sandwiching the rotary shaft 12. The action surface 14 of the pressing member 15 is an inclined surface that gradually slopes in a direction away from the rotary shaft 12 as it goes to the side opposite the plate-shaped portion 11.

[0020] The cam 20 has a rotation shaft 21, and is rotatable around a rotation center O2 by this rotation shaft 21. The cam 20 is rotated in rotation directions Ra and Rb by an actuator housed in the actuator housing 46. The outer peripheral surface of the cam 20 is a cam surface 22. This cam surface 22 is the surface with which the action surface 14 of the pressing member 15 of the handle body 10 slides. As the cam 20 rotates around the rotation center O2, the position of the contact point P between the cam surface 22 and the action surface 14 is displaced, and the handle body 10 is thereby rotated around the rotation center O1.

[0021] FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the positions of the cam 20 and the acting surface 14 when the handle body 10 is placed in the protruding position. As shown in Figure 6, the cam surface 22 of the cam 20 has a displacement region A1 and a holding region A2. In the displacement region A1, the distance from the rotation center O2 to the cam surface 22 gradually changes from distance D1 toward the holding region A2 to distance D2, which is greater than distance D1. In contrast, in the holding region A2, the distance from the rotation center O2 to the cam surface 22 is constant at D2. As a result, in the holding region A2 of the cam surface 22, a tangent line La passing through the contact point P where the working surface 14 of the handle body 10 contacts is perpendicular to a straight line Lb passing through the contact point P where the rotation center O2 of the cam 20 contacts the working surface 14.

[0022] Furthermore, by setting the rotation angle of the cam 20 when the handle body 10 is in the protruding position so that the contact point P is at the middle position of the holding area A2, even if an error occurs in the stopping angle of the cam 20, it is possible to reliably make the tangent line La passing through the contact point P where the working surface 14 of the handle body 10 contacts perpendicular to the straight line Lb passing through the contact point P where the rotation center O2 of the cam 20 contacts the working surface 14.

[0023] The biasing member 30 is a torsion coil spring having a coil portion 31 and a pair of arm portions 32, 33 extending outward from both ends of the coil portion 31. The biasing member 30 is attached to the rotation shaft 12 of the handle body 10 with the rotation shaft 12 inserted into the coil portion 31, and the arm portions 32, 33 are engaged with the handle body 10 and the handle base 40. The biasing member 30 biases the handle body 10 in a rotational direction that draws the handle body 10 into the accommodating recess 43 of the handle base 40, and causes the acting surface 14 of the pressing member 15 of the handle body 10 to abut against the cam surface 22 of the cam 20.

[0024] In the handle device 100 having the above-described configuration, the handle body 10 is displaceable among a storage position, a protruding position, and an operating position.

[0025] Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the handle device 100 when the handle body 10 is positioned at the protruding position. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the handle device 100 when the handle body 10 is positioned at the operating position. Fig. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the positions of the cam 20 and the acting surface 14 when the handle body 10 is positioned at the operating position.

[0026] In the storage position, the handle body 10 is accommodated in the accommodation recess 43 of the handle base 40 and stored inside the door (see FIG. 1). As a result, the surface of the plate-like portion 11 of the handle body 10 is flush with the exterior surface of the door panel 2.

[0027] The handle body 10 is displaced from the retracted position to the extended position by the cam 20 being rotated in the rotation direction Ra and the operating surface 14 coming into sliding contact with the cam surface 22 from the displacement area A1 to the holding area A2.

[0028] 7, in the protruding position, the operating surface 14 of the handle body 10 is pressed by the cam surface 22, causing the handle body 10 to rotate against the biasing force of the biasing member 30, and the grip portion 13 is protruded from the accommodation recess 43. As a result, the handle body 10 is in a state in which the grip portion 13 protrudes from the opening 1 of the door panel 2, allowing the user to grip it.

[0029] When the user grips the grip portion 13 while the handle body 10 is in the protruding position and operates it to further rotate against the biasing force of the biasing member 30, the handle body 10 is displaced from the protruding position to the operating position.

[0030] 8, in the operating position, the handle body 10 is in a state in which the grip portion 13 further protrudes from the accommodation recess 43. When the handle body 10 is displaced to this operating position, the operating arm 47 is rotated, and the door latch provided on the vehicle door is actuated to open the door.

[0031] In this way, when the handle body 10 is displaced to the operating position against the biasing force of the biasing member 30, the operating surface 14 of the handle body 10 is separated from the cam surface 22 of the cam 20, as shown in FIG.

[0032] When the user releases the handle body 10 that has been displaced to this operating position, the handle body 10 is rotated back toward the protruding position by the biasing force of the biasing member 30. Then, the operating surface 14 of the handle body 10 abuts against the holding area A2 of the cam surface 22 of the cam 20. This restricts the handle body 10 from rotating due to the biasing force of the biasing member 30, and the handle body 10 is held in the protruding position.

[0033] In the handle device 100 according to this embodiment, the tangent line La passing through the contact point P where the acting surface 14 contacts in the holding area A2 of the cam surface 22 is perpendicular to the line Lb passing through the contact point P where the center of rotation O2 of the cam 20 and the acting surface 14 contact (see FIG. 6). Therefore, even if the acting surface 14 of the handle body 10, which is being returned from the operating position to the extended position by the biasing force of the biasing member 30, contacts the holding area A2 of the cam surface 22, the impact force at the time of contact is directed toward the center of rotation O2 of the cam 20, so no moment of inertia is generated in the cam 20. This suppresses changes in the rotation angle of the cam 20 due to the impact when the handle body 10 is returned from the operating position to the extended position.

[0034] When the handle body 10 is returned to the extended position, the cam 20 is rotated in the reverse direction of rotation Rb. As a result, the cam 20 rotates in the rotation direction Rb and the operating surface 14 slides on the cam surface 22 from the holding area A2 to the displacement area A1, displacing the handle body 10 from the extended position to the stored position. As a result, the handle body 10 is accommodated in the accommodation recess 43 of the handle base 40 and stored inside the door (see FIG. 1). As a result, the surface of the plate-shaped portion 11 of the handle body 10 is flush with the exterior surface of the door panel 2.

[0035] As described above, the handle device 100 according to this embodiment can suppress changes in the rotation angle of the cam 20 due to the impact when the handle body 10 is returned from the operating position to the extended position, thereby maintaining the rotation angle of the cam 20. Therefore, the handle body 10 can be returned to the storage position without misalignment by the subsequent rotation of the cam 20. In other words, the accurate rotation position of the handle body 10 can be maintained without increasing the number of components or the size, and good design and aerodynamic characteristics can be maintained when the handle body 10 is returned to the storage position and stored inside the door panel 2.

[0036] In the handle device 100 of the above embodiment, the handle body 10 may be provided with a shock absorbing structure on the pressing member 15 of the handle body 10, which has the operating surface 14 that comes into sliding contact with the cam surface 22 of the cam 20, to absorb the shock that occurs when the handle body 10 returns from the operating position to the extended position. By providing the pressing member 15 with this shock absorbing structure, it is possible to weaken the shock that occurs when the handle body 10 returns from the operating position to the extended position, and it is possible to further suppress changes in the rotation angle of the cam 20.

[0037] An example of this shock absorbing structure is a structure in which the pressing member 15 is held rotatably relative to the handle body 10, and a spring is provided to apply a biasing force to the pressing member 15 so that the pressing member 15 and the handle body 10 are held at a set angle. In this structure, when an impact greater than the biasing force of the spring is applied to the pressing member 15, the pressing member 15 is allowed to rotate relative to the handle body 10, thereby absorbing the impact.

[0038] Furthermore, instead of using a spring as the shock absorbing structure, the pressing member 15 may be shaped as an elastically deformable beam. As a first example, a lightening groove is provided on the opposite side of the acting surface 14, making the acting surface 14 a beam shape supported at both ends. This allows the acting surface 14 to elastically deform and absorb shock. Alternatively, as a second example, the pressing member 15 is an elastic piece protruding in a cantilever shape from the handle body 10. This allows the pressing member 15 to elastically deform and absorb shock.

[0039] As such, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the present invention also contemplates the mutual combination of the various components of the embodiments, as well as modifications and applications by those skilled in the art based on the description in the specification and well-known techniques, and these modifications and applications are included in the scope of protection sought.

[0040] As described above, the present specification discloses the following: [1] A handle device for operating a door latch provided on a vehicle door, a handle body rotatably supported within the door; a cam having a cam surface against which an operating surface provided on the handle body abuts; and a biasing member that biases the handle body to cause the operating surface to abut against the cam surface, The handle body is displaced between a storage position where it is stored within the door and a protruding position where a part of it protrudes from the door and can be grasped by rotating the cam and causing the cam surface and the operating surface to slide in contact with each other, and is also displaceable from the protruding position to an operating position where the operating surface moves away from the cam surface and activates the door latch by being grasped against the biasing force of the biasing member, The cam includes a displacement region in which the distance from the rotation center to the cam surface changes stepwise, allowing the handle body to be pushed from the storage position to the protruding position, and a holding region in which the distance from the rotation center to the cam surface is constant, and the operating surface of the handle body returned from the operating position by the biasing member comes into contact with the cam surface, thereby holding the handle body at the protruding position, A handle device, wherein in the holding region, a tangent line at a contact point where the working surface of the handle body comes into contact is perpendicular to a line passing through the rotation center and the contact point.

[0041] According to the handle device having the configuration [1] above, when the cam is rotated, the handle body is displaced between a stored position where it is stored inside the door and a protruding position where it partially protrudes from the door and can be grasped. The user can then grasp the handle body disposed in the protruding position and move it to the operating position to operate the door latch. Furthermore, when the handle body is released from the grip, it is returned to the extended position by the biasing force of the biasing member, and the working surface of the handle body abuts against the holding area of ​​the cam surface. Here, the tangent passing through the contact point where the working surface of the handle body contacts the holding area of ​​the cam surface is perpendicular to the line passing through the cam's rotation center and the contact point. Therefore, even if the working surface of the handle body abuts against the holding area of ​​the cam surface, the impact force at the time of abutment is directed toward the cam's rotation center, so no moment of inertia is generated in the cam. Therefore, the rotational angle of the cam can be maintained when the handle body is returned, and subsequent rotation of the cam can return the handle body to the retracted position without misalignment. In other words, the accurate rotational position of the handle body can be maintained without increasing the number of components or increasing the size, and good design and aerodynamic characteristics can be maintained when the handle body is retracted.

[0042] [2] The handle body has a grip portion at one end thereof that can be gripped, and a pressing member at the other end thereof that has the working surface, The handle device according to [1], wherein the pressing member has a shock absorbing portion that absorbs the shock when the handle body abuts against the holding area of ​​the cam surface.

[0043] According to the handle device having the configuration [1] above, it is possible to reduce the impact when the handle body is returned from the operating position to the protruding position, and it is possible to further suppress the change in the rotation angle of the cam.

[0044] [3] The pressing member is rotatably held relative to the handle body, The handle device according to [2], wherein the impact absorbing portion applies a biasing force to the pressing member, thereby maintaining the pressing member and the handle body at a set angle.

[0045] According to the handle device having the configuration [3] above, when an impact exceeding the biasing force of the spring is applied to the pressing member, the pressing member is allowed to rotate relative to the handle body, and the impact is absorbed. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 10 Handle body 13 Gripping part 14 Working surface 15 Pressing member 20 Cam 22 Cam surface 30 biasing member 100 Handle device A1 Displacement area A2 holding area D1,D2 distance O1, O2 rotation center La tangent Lb straight line

Claims

1. A handle device for operating a door latch provided on a vehicle door, a handle body rotatably supported within the door; a cam having a cam surface against which an operating surface provided on the handle body abuts; and a biasing member that biases the handle body to cause the operating surface to abut against the cam surface, The handle body is displaced between a storage position where it is stored within the door and a protruding position where a part of it protrudes from the door and can be grasped by rotating the cam and causing the cam surface and the operating surface to slide in contact with each other, and is also displaceable from the protruding position to an operating position where the operating surface moves away from the cam surface and activates the door latch by being grasped against the biasing force of the biasing member, The cam includes a displacement region in which the distance from the rotation center to the cam surface changes stepwise, allowing the handle body to be pushed from the storage position to the protruding position, and a holding region in which the distance from the rotation center to the cam surface is constant, and the operating surface of the handle body returned from the operating position by the biasing member comes into contact with the cam surface, thereby holding the handle body at the protruding position, In the holding area, a tangent line at a contact point where the working surface of the handle body contacts is perpendicular to a line passing through the rotation center and the contact point. Handle device.

2. The handle body has a grip portion at one end thereof that can be gripped, and a pressing member at the other end thereof that is provided with the operating surface, with the rotation center sandwiched therebetween, The pressing member has a shock absorbing portion that absorbs the shock when the handle body abuts against the holding area of ​​the cam surface. The handle device according to claim 1 .

3. The pressing member is rotatably held relative to the handle body, The impact absorbing portion applies a biasing force to the pressing member, and maintains the pressing member and the handle body at a set angle. The handle device according to claim 2 .

Images