Door handle device

Abstract

Uses a horizontally operating pop-up type flush handle. Door handle device In this, a coupling mechanism is realized using a rod or lever. [Solution] The door latch device includes a mechanism that transitions the state of the door handle from a first state in which it is retracted along the surface of the door outer panel, through a second state in which it protrudes from the surface of the door outer panel, to a third state in which it is further pulled out to the outside of the vehicle; a door latch device that includes a movable part that can move between an upper position and a lower position, and switches between a locked state and an unlocked state according to the change in the vertical position of the movable part; and a rod or lever, one end of which is connected to the mechanism and the other end of which is connected to the movable part of the door latch device, wherein the mechanism includes a latch drive mechanism that moves the other end of the rod or lever vertically based on the movement of the door handle from the second state to the third state. Door handle device It will be disclosed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to Door handle device .

Background Art

[0002] Using a horizontally actuated pop-up type flash handle Door handle device is known. In such Door handle device , the door handle transitions from a first state where it is retracted along the surface of the door outer panel, through a second state where it protrudes from the surface of the door outer panel, to a third state where it is further pulled out from the second state, in response to the actuation of the actuator and / or an operation by the user.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in this type of so-called horizontally actuated pop-up type flash handle Door handle device , as in the prior art described above, the connection between the door handle mechanism and the door latch is made using a cable. This is because the stroke direction of the release lever of the door latch device is orthogonal to the stroke direction of the bell crank that operates the door latch among the mechanisms of the door handle. In the case of such a connection mechanism using a cable, there is a problem that the cost is higher compared to a connection mechanism using a rod or a lever.

[0005] Therefore, on one side, the present disclosure aims to realize a connection mechanism using a rod or a lever in Door handle device using a horizontally actuated pop-up type flash handle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect involves a mechanism that transitions the state of the door handle, which is provided on the door outer panel side, from a first state in which it is retracted along the surface of the door outer panel, through a second state in which it protrudes from the surface of the door outer panel, to a third state in which it is further pulled outwards from the vehicle from the second state. A door latch device including a movable part that can move between an upper position and a lower position, the door latch device switching between a locked state and an unlocked state according to the change in the vertical position of the movable part, A rod or lever, one end of which is connected to the mechanism and the other end of which is connected to the movable part of the door latch device, The mechanism includes a latch drive mechanism that moves the other end of the rod or lever vertically based on the movement of the door handle from the second state to the third state. Door handle device It will be provided. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] In one aspect, according to this disclosure, a horizontally operating pop-up type flush handle is used. Door handle device This makes it possible to implement a coupling mechanism using a rod or lever. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This figure shows an example of a vehicle equipped with the door handle device according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] This diagram shows the initial state (retracted position) of the door outside handle. [Figure 3A] This is an enlarged view of section Q11 in Figure 2. [Figure 3B] This is an enlarged view of section Q12 in Figure 2. [Figure 4] This diagram shows the door outside handle in a popped-up state, protruding from the surface of the door outer panel. [Figure 5]This diagram shows the completed state of the door outside handle, which has been pulled out from the popped-up position. [Figure 6] This is a perspective view showing the bell crank and its surrounding components. [Figure 7] This is a cross-sectional view passing through the rotational plane (XZ plane) of the bell crank. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The following describes each embodiment in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Note that the dimensional ratios in the drawings are merely examples and are not exhaustive. Furthermore, shapes and other details in the drawings may be partially exaggerated for illustrative purposes. Also, for clarity, in some cases, only a portion of parts with the same attribute are assigned reference numerals in the drawings.

[0010] Figure 1 shows the results of this embodiment. Door handle device This diagram shows an example of a vehicle equipped with item 1.

[0011] Figure 1 (and Figures 2, 4, and 5 shown later) shows the X, Y, and Z axes, which are orthogonal axes in a right-handed coordinate system. Here, the X direction corresponds to the vehicle width direction. The Y direction corresponds to the vehicle longitudinal direction, with the positive side of the Y direction being the front. The Z direction corresponds to the up and down direction. However, in reality, the vehicle width direction, the vehicle longitudinal direction, and / or the vertical direction (direction of gravity) may be slightly inclined (for example, less than 20 degrees) with respect to the X, Y, and Z directions. That is, the X, Y, and Z directions have the vehicle width direction, the vehicle longitudinal direction, and the vertical direction (direction of gravity) as their main directional components, respectively.

[0012] Door handle device 1 is built into the vehicle door. That is, Door handle device 1 is mainly installed between the outer door panel 2 and the inner door panel (not shown) of the vehicle. The vehicle door into which it is built may be any door, and may be any door except the tailgate.

[0013] The door outer panel 2 is provided with a door outside handle 3. In an initial state (an example of the first state), the door outside handle 3 is retracted (stored) in a manner along the surface of the door outer panel 2. For example, the door outside handle 3 is stored inside the door (on the negative X-direction side with respect to the door outer panel 2) such that the surface on the positive X-direction side (outside the vehicle) is substantially continuous with the surface of the door outer panel 2. Details of the movement of the door outside handle 3 will be described later with reference to FIG. 2 and subsequent figures.

[0014] Door handle device 1 includes a door latch device 30. The door latch device 30 is mechanically connected to the door outside handle 3 and the door inside handle 4. The door latch device 30 operates in response to a user input or the like via the door outside handle 3 and the door inside handle 4, and switches between the locked state and the unlocked state of the door.

[0015] Note that the details of the door latch device 30 are arbitrary. In this embodiment, as an example, the switching between the locked state and the unlocked state is realized by the release lever (see FIG. 7) of the door latch device 30 stroking in the vertical direction and switching between a state where the latch engages with a striker (not shown) on the vehicle body side and an unlocked state where it disengages from the striker. Here, the vertical direction does not necessarily have to be strictly parallel to the vertical direction (gravity direction), and may have a slight inclination with respect to the vertical direction (gravity direction). Note that the door latch (not shown) is rotatable about a rotation axis extending in the Y direction, and rotates in conjunction with the vertical stroke of the rod connecting portion 34 (see FIG. 7) of the release lever of the door latch device 30.

[0016] FIGS. 2 to 5 are according to this embodiment Door handle deviceThis is an explanatory diagram illustrating the outline of 1. Figure 2 shows the initial state (storage state) of the door outside handle 3, Figure 3A is an enlarged view of part Q11 in Figure 2, and Figure 3B is an enlarged view of part Q12 in Figure 2. Figure 4 shows the pop-up state in which the door outside handle 3 protrudes from the surface of the door outer panel 2, and Figure 5 shows the completed operation state in which the door outside handle 3 is pulled out from the pop-up state. Figures 2, 4, and 5 are views of the vehicle from above and below. Door handle device This is a diagram showing the main part of item 1 in perspective.

[0017] Door handle device The device further comprises an actuator 10, a case 12, and a mechanism 20.

[0018] The actuator 10 operates based on control signals from an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) (not shown). The actuator 10 is mechanically connected to the mechanism 20 and generates power for the operation of the mechanism 20. In this embodiment, the actuator 10 generates power for the transition from the initial state (Figure 2) to the pop-up state (see Figure 4, an example of the second state).

[0019] The case portion 12 is fixed to the door outer panel 2. The case portion 12 supports the mechanism portion 20. For example, the case portion 12 fixes each rotation axis of the mechanism portion 20 that is parallel to the Z axis (e.g., rotation axis 212). The case portion 12 may also support the actuator 10.

[0020] The mechanism 20 transitions the state of the door outside handle 3, which is provided on the door outer panel 2 side, from the initial state (Figure 2) through the pop-up state (Figure 4) to the completed operation state (Figure 5).

[0021] In this embodiment, the mechanism 20 includes multiple link mechanisms 21 and 22, a slider 23, and the like. The multiple link mechanisms 21 and 22 are supported by the case 12 in a manner that allows for rotational movement, which will be described later. The slider 23 is supported by the case 12 in a manner that allows for sliding (translational movement) in the Y direction. The movements of the link mechanisms 21 and 22, and the slider 23 (and consequently the door outside handle 3) basically occur in the XY plane.

[0022] Here, we will outline the general configuration of the mechanism 20, along with its operation. Note that the configuration of the mechanism 20 described here is merely an example; the details are arbitrary as long as it enables the function of transitioning from the initial state (Figure 2) through the pop-up state (Figure 4) to the operation completion state (Figure 5).

[0023] In Figures 2 to 5, the movement of the mechanism 20 is schematically shown by arrows such as arrow R20.

[0024] In the initial state, when the operating condition is met and the actuator 10 is activated, the slider 23 moves to the negative side in the Y direction (see arrow R21 in Figures 3A and 3B). The operating condition is arbitrary, but may be met, for example, when a legitimate user's hand touches a touch sensor, which may be built into the door outside handle 3. Whether or not it is a legitimate user may be determined based on a key identifier obtained through communication between an in-vehicle device (not shown) and an electronic key (an electronic key possessed by the user).

[0025] When the actuator 10 is activated and the slider 23 moves to the negative side in the Y direction, the slider 23 pushes the arm 210 of the link mechanism 21 and the arm 220 of the link mechanism 22 to the negative side in the Y direction. Consequently, the arm 210 of the link mechanism 21 and the arm 220 of the link mechanism 22 rotate (arrow R22), and as a result, the door outside handle 3 pops up in a manner that pushes it outwards from the vehicle (positive side in the X direction) (arrow R23). In this case, the displacement (pop-up amount) of the door outside handle 3 may be approximately the same on the front and rear sides of the door outside handle 3. That is, the door outside handle 3 may pop up approximately parallel to the Y direction.

[0026] In the pop-up state (Figure 4), the user (the user who is about to board the vehicle) can place their hand on the door outside handle 3 and pull it outwards in the X direction. When the door outside handle 3 is pulled outwards in the X direction (arrow R30), the arm 220 of the link mechanism 22 rotates (arrow R24), and as a result, the door outside handle 3 rotates around the rotation axis 212 of the link mechanism 21 (arrow R25), and the rotation axis 222 of the link mechanism 22 is displaced in the X direction (arrow R26), resulting in the completed operation state (see Figure 5, an example of the third state).

[0027] Next, the features of this embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 6 and subsequent figures.

[0028] Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the bell crank 270 and its surrounding components, and Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the bell crank 270 passing through the rotation plane (XZ plane). Both Figures 6 and 7 show the bell crank 270 in both the pop-up state and the fully operated state. However, for distinction, the bell crank 270 in the fully operated state is shown with a dotted line. In Figure 6, the rod 90 shown in Figure 7 is omitted from the illustration. Also, in Figure 7, the rod connecting portion 34 on the door latch device 30 side is schematically shown.

[0029] In this embodiment, the mechanism 20 includes a latch drive mechanism 27 connected to the door latch device 30 via a rod 90. The latch drive mechanism 27 mechanically drives the door latch device 30 via the rod 90 based on the movement of the door outside handle 3 from the popped-up state to the completed operation state. Specifically, the latch drive mechanism 27 causes the door latch device 30 to move from the locked state to the unlocked state based on the movement of the door outside handle 3 from the popped-up state to the completed operation state.

[0030] In this embodiment, the latch drive mechanism 27 includes a bell crank drive unit 260 and a bell crank 270.

[0031] The bell crank drive unit 260 is the part that mechanically drives (rotates) the bell crank 270 in conjunction with the transition of the door outside handle 3 from the popped-up state to the completed operation state. In this embodiment, the bell crank drive unit 260 is displaced in the Y direction from a contact position P1 (an example of a first position) to a drive position P2 (an example of a second position) in conjunction with the transition of the door outside handle 3 from the popped-up state to the completed operation state. At the contact position P1, the bell crank drive unit 260 contacts the end 275 of the bell crank 270 from the negative X direction side. The drive position P2 is on the positive X direction side of the contact position P1. From the contact position P1 to the drive position P2, the bell crank drive unit 260 maintains contact with the end 275 of the bell crank 270. Therefore, the X-direction stroke of the bell crank drive unit 260 from the contact position P1 to the drive position P2 causes the bell crank 270 to rotate (rotation around the rotation axis 271).

[0032] The bell crank drive unit 260 may be a part integrally formed with the door outside handle 3, or it may be a member that moves integrally with the door outside handle 3 by being coupled to the door outside handle 3.

[0033] The bell crank 270 is supported by the case portion 12 in such a manner that it can rotate around a rotation axis 271 parallel to the Y direction. Therefore, the movement of the bell crank 270 occurs in the XZ plane. Of the ends of the bell crank 270 on either side of the rotation axis 271, one end abuts against the bell crank drive unit 260, and the other end is connected to the rod 90.

[0034] The bell crank 270 has a rod connecting portion 272 to which one end of the rod 90 is connected. The rod connecting portion 272 may include an insertion hole 2721 (see Figure 6) into which the rod 90 can be inserted in the Y direction. The bell crank 270 rotates such that when the door outside handle 3 is in the popped-up state, the rod connecting portion 272 is at position P3 (an example of a third position), and when the door outside handle 3 is in the fully operated state, the rod connecting portion 272 is at position P4 (an example of a fourth position). Position P4 is located below position P3 (negative side in the Z direction). The bell crank 270 may be biased toward position P3 by a spring 274 (see Figure 6).

[0035] When the rod connecting portion 272 of the bell crank 270 moves from position P3 to position P4, the other end of the rod 90 (and consequently the rod connecting portion 34 of the release lever of the door latch device 30) moves (strokes) from position P5 to position P6, as schematically shown in Figure 7. This switches the state of the door latch device 30 from the locked state to the unlocked state. In the example shown in Figure 7, the release lever having the rod connecting portion 34 has a rotation axis parallel to the Y direction and rotates in the XZ plane.

[0036] In this way, according to this embodiment, the movement of the door outside handle 3 (movement in the XY plane) can be converted into the movement of the bell crank 270 (movement in the XZ plane) which is orthogonal to that movement. For this reason, a rod 90 can be connected to the bell crank 270, and the latch of the door latch device 30 can be moved via the rod 90. This makes it possible to mechanically connect the mechanism 20 and the door latch device 30 via a relatively inexpensive rod 90 connection mechanism, without using a relatively expensive cable connection mechanism. Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the mechanism 20 and the door latch device 30 can be mechanically connected via the rod 90 by substantially adding the bell crank 270, so there is no significant increase in the number of parts, and a simple configuration can be used to reduce costs.

[0037] In this embodiment, the mechanism 20 and the door latch device 30 are mechanically connected via a rod 90, but a lever may be used instead of the rod 90. Furthermore, in the door latch device 30, a member capable of reciprocating vertically may be used instead of the release lever. In this case, the rod connecting portion 34 should move vertically in accordance with the vertical movement of the member.

[0038] Although each embodiment has been described in detail above, the invention is not limited to any particular embodiment, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope described in the claims. Furthermore, it is possible to combine all or more of the components of the embodiments described above. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0039] 1 Door handle device 2 Door outer panel, 3 Door outside handle, 10 Actuator, 20 Mechanism, 27 Latch drive mechanism, 260 Bell crank drive unit (part or component), 270 Bell crank, 30 Door latch device, 34 Rod connection unit (movable part)

Claims

1. A mechanism that transitions the state of the door handle provided on the door outer panel side from a first state in which it is retracted along the surface of the door outer panel, to a second state in which it protrudes from the surface of the door outer panel, and then to a third state in which it is further pulled outwards from the second state. A door latch device including a movable part that can move between an upper position and a lower position, the door latch device switching between a locked state and an unlocked state according to the change in the vertical position of the movable part, A rod or lever, one end of which is connected to the mechanism and the other end of which is connected to the movable part of the door latch device, The aforementioned mechanism includes a latch drive mechanism that moves the other end of the rod or lever vertically based on the movement of the door handle from the second state to the third state, and is a door locking device.

2. The latch drive mechanism includes a bell crank that rotates around a rotation axis whose primary directional component is the vehicle's longitudinal direction. The door lock device according to claim 1, wherein one end of the rod or lever is connected to the bell crank.

3. The latch drive mechanism has a portion or member that is integrally formed with or coupled to the door handle, As the door handle moves from the second state to the third state, the aforementioned part or component is displaced from a first position to a second position that is further outward in the vehicle width direction than the first position, when viewed in the axial direction of the rotation axis. The bell crank has a first end that abuts against the part or member, and a second end that is connected to the rod or lever. The door lock device according to claim 2, wherein the rotation of the bell crank due to the displacement of the aforementioned part or member from the first position to the second position causes the second end of the bell crank to move from the third position to a fourth position lower than the third position.

Images