Door handle device

Abstract

Regarding the door handle, a relatively simple structure is used to enable sequential electric and mechanical unlocking as the door handle stroke increases. [Solution] The door handle is equipped with a mechanism that transitions between four states, a signal generation unit that generates an electrical signal based on the movement from the second to the third state, and a door latch drive unit that performs electric unlocking in response to the electrical signal. The first bell crank rotates from the first to the second rotation position in response to the transition from the second to the third state, and rotates from the second to the third rotation position in response to the transition from the third to the fourth state. The second bell crank rotates from the fourth to the fifth rotation position in response to the transition from the third to the fourth state. The lever is connected to the first bell crank so that the second bell crank rotates from the fourth to the fifth rotation position in conjunction with the rotation of the first bell crank from the second to the third rotation position, and the rotation of the second bell crank from the fourth to the fifth rotation position realizes mechanical unlocking. Door handle device It will be disclosed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to Door handle device .

Background Art

[0002] A so-called pop-up door handle is operable from a first state where it is retracted along the surface of the door outer panel to a second state where it protrudes from the surface of the door outer panel. In this type of pop-up door handle, it is known to transition to a third state that is further pulled out than the popped-up second state and, in response to an operation by the user in the third state, transition the door handle to a fourth state that is further pulled out than the third state.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In such a pop-up door handle, by realizing the transition between the four states as described above, as the amount of the manual pulling stroke of the door handle from the second state increases, the electric unlocking of the door latch and the mechanical unlocking of the door latch can be realized in this order.

[0005] However, in the prior art as described above, in order to realize such a function, a relatively complex structure (mechanism part) is used, and there is a problem that there are relatively many parts.

[0006] Therefore, in one aspect, the present disclosure aims to enable, using a relatively simple structure, to sequentially achieve electric and mechanical unlocking in a pop-up door handle in accordance with the increasing extension stroke of the door handle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] On one side, the door handle is provided on the door outer panel side and becomes operable through a first state in which it is retracted along the surface of the door outer panel, and a second state in which it protrudes from the surface of the door outer panel. A mechanism that, in response to user operation in the second state, transitions the door handle to a third state in which it is pulled out by a first stroke amount further than the second state, and in response to user operation in the third state, transitions it to a fourth state in which it is pulled out by a second stroke amount further than the third state, A signal generation unit generates an electrical signal based on the movement of the door handle from the second state to the third state, A door latch device mechanically connected to the aforementioned mechanism, The system includes a door latch drive unit that electrically drives the door latch device to unlock it based on the aforementioned electrical signal, The aforementioned mechanism includes a first bell crank, a second bell crank, and a lever. The first bell crank rotates from a first rotational position to a second rotational position around the first rotational axis in response to the transition of the door handle from the second state to the third state, and rotates from a second rotational position to a third rotational position around the first rotational axis in response to the transition of the door handle from the third state to the fourth state. The second bell crank rotates from the fourth rotation position to the fifth rotation position around the second rotation axis in accordance with the transition of the door handle from the third state to the fourth state. The lever is connected to the first bell crank and the second bell crank such that the second bell crank rotates from the fourth rotation position to the fifth rotation position in conjunction with the rotation of the first bell crank from the second rotation position to the third rotation position. The rotation of the second bell crank from the fourth rotation position to the fifth rotation position mechanically operates the door latch device so as to unlock it. Door handle device It will be provided. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] In one respect, according to this disclosure, a pop-up door handle can be configured to sequentially achieve electric and mechanical unlocking in accordance with the increasing extension stroke of the door handle, using a relatively simple structure. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This figure shows an example of a vehicle equipped with the door handle device according to this embodiment. [Figure 1A] This is a schematic diagram showing the control system for a door handle device. [Figure 2A] This is an explanatory diagram of the mechanism, showing a cross-sectional view of the main part from above. [Figure 2B] This is an explanatory diagram of the mechanism, showing a cross-sectional view of the main part from below. [Figure 3] This diagram shows the initial state (retracted position) of the door outside handle. [Figure 3A] This is an enlarged view of section Q3 in Figure 3. [Figure 4] This diagram shows the door outside handle in a popped-up state, protruding from the surface of the door outer panel. [Figure 4A] This is an enlarged view of section Q4 in Figure 4. [Figure 5] This figure shows the electrically operated latch activated, with the door outside handle slightly pulled out from the popped-up position. [Figure 5A] This is an enlarged view of section Q5 in Figure 5. [Figure 6] It is a diagram showing a manual unlocking state in which the door outside handle is further pulled out from the electric latch activation state. [Figure 6A] It is an enlarged view of part Q6 in FIG. 6. [Figure 7] It is a perspective view explaining further features of the mechanism part.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, each embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the dimensional ratios in the drawings are merely examples and are not limited thereto, and the shapes etc. in the drawings may be exaggerated partially for the convenience of explanation. Also, in the drawings, for the sake of clarity, only some of the parts having the same attribute that exist in plurality may be labeled with reference numerals.

[0011] FIG. 1 shows an example of a vehicle in which Door handle device 1 is mounted. Note that the configuration of Door handle device 1 on the left and right sides of the vehicle may be symmetric.

[0012] In FIG. 1 (and FIGS. 2A, 2B, 3, 4, 5, and 6 to be described later), the X, Y, and Z axes, which are three axes orthogonal in the right - hand coordinate system, are shown. Here, the X - direction corresponds to the vehicle width direction, and the positive side is the outside of the vehicle. The Y - direction corresponds to the vehicle longitudinal direction, and the positive side in the Y - direction is the front. The Z - direction corresponds to the vertical direction. However, in reality, the vehicle width direction, the vehicle longitudinal direction, and / or the vertical direction (gravity direction) may be slightly (for example, less than 20 degrees) inclined with respect to the X - direction, Y - direction, and Z - direction. That is, the X - direction, Y - direction, and Z - direction may each have the vehicle width direction, the vehicle longitudinal direction, and the vertical direction (gravity direction) as the main direction components.

[0013] Door handle device 1 is built into the door of the vehicle. That is, Door handle device1 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.

[0014] The door outer panel 2 is provided with a door outside handle 3. The door outside handle 3 is of the pop-up type and, in its initial state, is retracted (stored) along the surface of the door outer panel 2. For example, the door outside handle 3 is stored inside the door (negative side in the X direction from the door outer panel 2) such that the surface on the positive side in the X direction (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 Figure 3 and subsequent figures.

[0015] Door handle device 1 includes a door latch device 30.

[0016] 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 user input via the door outside handle 3 and the door inside handle 4, switching between the locked and unlocked states of the door. The door latch device 30 also activates the door lock actuator 6 (see Figure 1A) in response to instructions from the body ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 5 (see Figure 1A) to switch between the locked and unlocked states of the door. Hereinafter, this switching from the locked state to the unlocked state by the operation of the door lock actuator will also be referred to as "electric latch activation".

[0017] Figure 1A shows, Door handle device This is a schematic diagram showing the control system of 1.

[0018] Door handle device The control system 1 is centered around the body ECU 5. The body ECU 5 is formed by a computer, etc. Note that the body ECU 5 is Door handle deviceIt may have functions to control various in-vehicle devices other than those specified in item 1 (for example, power windows, electric seats, etc.).

[0019] The body ECU 5 is connected to the door lock actuator 6, the latch activation switch 9, and the door handle actuator 10.

[0020] When the door lock operating conditions are met, the body ECU 5 drives the door lock actuator 6 to activate the door latch device 30. The door lock operating conditions are arbitrary. In this embodiment, the door lock operating conditions related to switching from the locked state to the unlocked state are met when the latch activation switch 9 is turned on from the off state (initial state).

[0021] Furthermore, when the door handle operating conditions are met, the body ECU 5 drives the door handle actuator 10. Door handle device The mechanism 20 (described later) of part 1 is activated. The door handle operating conditions are arbitrary, but in this embodiment, the conditions for switching the door outside handle 3 from its initial state (see Figure 3) to the pop-up state (see Figure 4) may be, for example, as follows. That is, the door handle operating conditions may be met when the proximity of a legitimate user to the vehicle or when a legitimate user touches a predetermined location on the door outside handle 3 is detected. In this case, a legitimate user is a user who possesses an electronic key that transmits radio waves containing a legitimate identifier, and may be detected by the body ECU 5 via communication between the on-board antenna (not shown) and the electronic key.

[0022] Figures 2A to 6A show the results of this embodiment. Door handle deviceThis is an explanatory diagram showing an overview of 1. Figures 2A and 2B are explanatory diagrams of the mechanism 20, and are cross-sections cut in the same XY plane, viewed from above in Figure 2A and from below in Figure 2B. In Figures 2A and 2B, the four states (initial state, pop-up state, electric latch activated state, and manual unlock state) which will be explained in detail below are shown superimposed. Figure 3 shows the initial state (storage state) of the door outside handle 3, and Figure 3A is an enlarged view of part Q3 in Figure 3. 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 4A is an enlarged view of part Q4 in Figure 4. Figure 5 shows the electric latch activated state in which the door outside handle 3 is slightly pulled out from the pop-up state, and Figure 5A is an enlarged view of part Q5 in Figure 5. Figure 6 shows the manual unlock state where the door outside handle 3 is further pulled out from the electrically operated latch activated state, and Figure 6A is an enlarged view of part Q6 in Figure 6.

[0023] Door handle device The device further comprises a door handle actuator 10, a case portion 12, and a mechanism portion 20.

[0024] The door handle actuator 10 operates based on a control signal from the body ECU 5. The door handle actuator 10 is mechanically connected to the mechanism 20 and generates power for the operation of the mechanism 20. In this embodiment, the door handle actuator 10 generates power for the transition from the initial state (Figure 3, an example of the first state) to the pop-up state (see Figure 4, an example of the second state).

[0025] 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 712). The case portion 12 may also support the door handle actuator 10.

[0026] 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 3) to the pop-up state (Figure 4), and then to the electrically operated latch activated state (Figure 5, an example of the third state) or the manually unlocked state (Figure 6, an example of the fourth state).

[0027] The details of the mechanism 20 are arbitrary, as long as it can transition between these four states.

[0028] For example, the mechanism 20 may include a slider 23 that can move translationally in the vehicle's longitudinal direction by the operation of the door handle actuator 10, and a plurality of link mechanisms 21, 22 that can operate in the XY plane. The plurality of link mechanisms 21, 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 it to slide (translationally move) in the Y direction.

[0029] In the examples shown in Figures 2A and 2B, multiple link mechanisms 21 and 22 may operate in conjunction with the translational movement of the slider 23 to transition the state of the door outside handle 3 from the initial state (Figure 3) to the pop-up state (Figure 4). Furthermore, multiple link mechanisms 21 and 22 may operate in conjunction with the manual pulling out of the door outside handle 3 to transition from the pop-up state (Figure 4) to the electrically operated latch activated state (Figure 5), and from the electrically operated latch activated state (Figure 5) to the manually unlocked state (Figure 6). Note that 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.

[0030] Here, if we define the stroke of the door outside handle 3 when transitioning from the pop-up state (Figure 4) to the electrically operated latch activated state (Figure 5) as the first stroke, and the stroke of the door outside handle 3 when transitioning from the electrically operated latch activated state (Figure 5) to the manual unlock state (Figure 6) as the second stroke, then preferably, the following relationship holds true in this embodiment. That is, the second stroke is significantly larger than the first stroke. This is because the manual unlock state (Figure 6) is an emergency state (it is not needed under normal circumstances). In other words, there may be cases where the door is not unlocked in the electrically operated latch activated state (Figure 5) due to an abnormality in the power supply for operating the door lock actuator 6 or an abnormality in the latch activation switch 9, etc. In such cases, the manual unlock state (Figure 6) is an emergency state that allows the user to further pull out the door outside handle 3 to mechanically unlock the door. Therefore, by making the second stroke relatively large, it is possible to prevent the manual unlock state (Figure 6) from being accidentally activated due to excessive force during the pulling operation from the pop-up state (see Figure 4) to the electrically operated latch activated state (Figure 5). Also, by making the first stroke relatively small, it is possible to prevent excessive force during the pulling operation from the pop-up state (see Figure 4) to the electrically operated latch activated state (Figure 5).

[0031] Furthermore, from a similar perspective, if the operating force applied to the door outside handle 3 required to transition from the pop-up state (Figure 4) to the electrically operated latch activated state (Figure 5) is defined as the first operating force, and the operating force applied to the door outside handle 3 required to transition from the electrically operated latch activated state (Figure 5) to the manually unlocked state (Figure 6) is defined as the second operating force, then in this embodiment, preferably, the following relationship holds: That is, the second operating force is significantly larger than the first operating force. By making the second operating force relatively large, it is possible to prevent the door from being pulled out too forcefully and accidentally entering the manually unlocked state (Figure 6) when pulling it out from the pop-up state (see Figure 4) to the electrically operated latch activated state (Figure 5). Also, by making the first operating force relatively small, the operability of the pull-out operation from the pop-up state (see Figure 4) to the electrically operated latch activated state (Figure 5) can be improved.

[0032] Next, referring to Figures 2A through 6A, and then to Figure 7, we will describe further features of the mechanism 20.

[0033] Figure 7 is a perspective view illustrating further features of the mechanism 20.

[0034] In this embodiment, the mechanism 20 further includes a first bell crank 71, a second bell crank 72, and a lever 80 as a more distinctive configuration.

[0035] The first bell crank 71 is supported by the case portion 12 so as to be rotatable around the rotation axis 712 in the Z direction.

[0036] One end of the link 220 of the linkage mechanism 22 is rotatably connected to the first bell crank 71 (see Figure 2B). The first bell crank 71 rotates around the rotation axis 712 in accordance with the movement of the link 220.

[0037] Specifically, the first bell crank 71 rotates from an initial position P0 (Figure 3A) around the rotation axis 712 to a first rotation position P1 (Figure 4A) in accordance with the transition of the door outside handle 3 from its initial state (Figure 3) to the popped-up state (Figure 4).

[0038] Furthermore, the first bell crank 71 rotates from a first rotation position P1 (Figure 4A) to a second rotation position P2 (Figure 5A) around the rotation axis 712 in accordance with the transition from the popped-up state of the door outside handle 3 (Figure 4) to the electrically operated latch activated state (Figure 5).

[0039] Furthermore, the first bell crank 71 rotates from a second rotation position P2 (Figure 5A) to a third rotation position P3 (Figure 6A) around the rotation axis 712 in accordance with the transition of the door outside handle 3 from the electrically operated latch activated state (Figure 5) to the manually unlocked state (Figure 6).

[0040] The first bell crank 71 is biased by the first spring 61 (see Figure 7) in the direction of returning to the initial position P0 around the rotation axis 712. That is, the first bell crank 71 rotates from the initial position P0 to the third rotation position P3 against the rotational torque of the first spring 61. In this case, the biasing force of the first spring 61 correlates with the first operating force described above. For this reason, the biasing force (elastic modulus) of the first spring 61 is preferably set to be relatively small.

[0041] The first bell crank 71 has a portion 713 that activates the latch activation switch 9. In this embodiment, as an example, the latch activation switch 9 is configured to turn on when a leaf spring 91 contacts a contact 92. In this case, the portion 713 of the first bell crank 71 presses the leaf spring 91 against the contact 92 (i.e., turns on the latch activation switch 9) in conjunction with the transition from the pop-up state (Figure 4) to the electrically operated latch activation state (Figure 5).

[0042] The first bell crank 71 is provided with a pin 76 that forms a connection with the lever 80, which will be described later. The pin 76 is in the form of a projection that protrudes in the Z direction.

[0043] The second bell crank 72 is supported by the case portion 12 so as to be rotatable around the rotation axis 722 in the Z direction.

[0044] The first bell crank 71 is connected to the second bell crank 72 via a lever 80. The second bell crank 72 is also provided with a connecting portion 723 to which one end of a cable (not shown) is connected. The other end of the cable (not shown) is connected to the door latch device 30. The second bell crank 72 is also provided with a rotating shaft 81 which forms a connecting portion with the lever 80, which will be described later.

[0045] The second bell crank 72 rotates from the fourth rotation position P4 to the fifth rotation position P5 around the rotation axis 722 in accordance with the transition of the door outside handle 3 from the electrically operated latch activated state (Figure 5) to the manually unlocked state (Figure 6).

[0046] When the second bell crank 72 rotates from the fourth rotation position P4 (Figure 5A) to the fifth rotation position P5 (Figure 6A), the connecting portion 723 is displaced from the non-operating position P6 (Figure 5A) to the operating position P7 (Figure 6A). The non-operating position P6 and the operating position P7 are separated in the Y direction. As a result, the cable (not shown) mechanically operates the door latch device 30, enabling the transition of the door from the locked state to the unlocked state.

[0047] The second bell crank 72 is biased by the second spring 62 (see Figure 7) in the direction of returning to the fourth rotation position P4 around the rotation axis 722. That is, the second bell crank 72 rotates from the fourth rotation position P4 to the fifth rotation position P5 against the rotation torque of the second spring 62. In this case, the biasing force of the second spring 62 correlates with the second operating force described above. For this reason, the biasing force (elastic modulus) of the second spring 62 is preferably set to be relatively large.

[0048] Lever 80 is connected at one end to the first bell crank 71 and at the other end to the second bell crank 72. Like the first bell crank 71 and the second bell crank 72, lever 80 operates in the XY plane.

[0049] Specifically, the lever 80 is connected at one end to the first bell crank 71 in such a manner that it is rotatable relative to the first bell crank 71 and displaceable along a predetermined direction in the XY plane. The predetermined direction is a direction that changes depending on the orientation of the lever 80 as viewed in the Z direction, and specifically corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the hole 82 of the lever 80. The hole 82 is in the form of an elongated hole and has a longitudinal direction. The pin 76 of the first bell crank 71 described above is inserted into the hole 82. In this case, the pin 76 is displaceable relative to the hole 82 along the longitudinal direction of the hole 82, but becomes displaceable when it reaches the end of the hole 82. The pin 76 is capable of sliding in the rotational (self-rotational) direction within the hole 82.

[0050] The lever 80 has a shaft hole 88 at its other end into which a rotating shaft 81 is inserted, and is connected to the second bell crank 72 via the rotating shaft 81. That is, the lever 80 is connected to the second bell crank 72 in such a manner that it can rotate around the rotating shaft 81 in the Z direction. The rotating shaft 81 is provided on the second bell crank 72 as described above and moves integrally with the second bell crank 72. There is no significant gap (a gap that allows for significant relative displacement) between the shaft hole 88 and the rotating shaft 81, such as the gap between the hole 82 and the pin 76.

[0051] As shown in Figures 3 to 5A, the lever 80 is connected to the first bell crank 71 in such a manner that it mechanically disconnects the second bell crank 72 when the first bell crank 71 rotates from its initial position P0 to the first rotation position P1 or the second rotation position P2. In other words, the lever 80 is connected to the first bell crank 71 in such a way that the second bell crank 72 does not rotate in conjunction with the rotation of the first bell crank 71 from its initial position P0 to the second rotation position P2. This connection is achieved by the relationship between the hole 82 and the pin 76 described above. Specifically, the pin 76 in the hole 82 is displaced between one end and the other in the longitudinal direction of the hole 82 at any rotation position from the initial position P0 to the second rotation position P2 of the first bell crank 71. More specifically, at the initial position P0 of the first bell crank 71, the pin 76 is located at one end in the longitudinal direction of the hole 82 (the negative end in the Y direction) (see Figure 3A). At the second rotation position P2 of the first bell crank 71, pin 76 is located at one end of the hole 82 in the longitudinal direction (the negative end in the Y direction) (see Figure 5A). Furthermore, at any rotation position between the initial position P0 and the second rotation position P2 of the first bell crank 71, pin 76 is located between one end and the other end of the hole 82 in the longitudinal direction. This makes it possible to prevent the lever 80 from generating a rotational force that would rotate the second bell crank 72 via the hole 82 and pin 76 at any rotation position between the initial position P0 and the second rotation position P2 of the first bell crank 71.

[0052] On the other hand, as shown in Figures 5 to 6A, the lever 80 rotates the second bell crank 72 from the fourth rotation position P4 to the fifth rotation position P5 in conjunction with the rotation of the first bell crank 71 from the second rotation position P2 to the third rotation position P3. That is, the lever 80 is connected to the first bell crank 71 in such a way that the rotation of the second bell crank 72 occurs in conjunction with the rotation of the first bell crank 71 from the second rotation position P2 to the third rotation position P3. Such a connection is realized by the relationship between the hole 82 and the pin 76 described above. Specifically, at the second rotation position P2 of the first bell crank 71, the pin 76 is located at one end of the hole 82 in the longitudinal direction (the negative end in the Y direction) (see Figure 5A). Then, when the first bell crank 71 attempts to rotate from the second rotation position P2 to the third rotation position P3, a rotational force is generated in the lever 80 because the pin 76 cannot be displaced any further (towards the negative side in the Y direction) in the hole 82. In other words, a rotational force is generated in the lever 80 via the hole 82 and the pin 76 that rotates the second bell crank 72. As a result, the second bell crank 72 can be rotated from the fourth rotation position P4 to the fifth rotation position P5 in conjunction with the rotation of the first bell crank 71 from the second rotation position P2 to the third rotation position P3.

[0053] In this way, according to this embodiment, with respect to the pop-up door handle, a relatively simple structure consisting of a first bell crank 71, a second bell crank 72, and a lever 80 can be used to sequentially achieve electric unlocking and mechanical unlocking in accordance with the increase in the pulling stroke of the door outside handle 3.

[0054] 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.

[0055] With regard to each of the embodiments described above, the following additional information is disclosed.

[0056] [Note 1] A door handle that is provided on the door outer panel side and becomes operable through a first state in which it is retracted along the surface of the door outer panel, and a second state in which it protrudes from the surface of the door outer panel, A mechanism that, in response to user operation in the second state, transitions the door handle to a third state in which it is pulled out by a first stroke amount further than the second state, and in response to user operation in the third state, transitions it to a fourth state in which it is pulled out by a second stroke amount further than the third state, A signal generation unit generates an electrical signal based on the movement of the door handle from the second state to the third state, A door latch device mechanically connected to the aforementioned mechanism, The system includes a door latch drive unit that electrically drives the door latch device to unlock it based on the aforementioned electrical signal, The aforementioned mechanism includes a first bell crank, a second bell crank, and a lever. The first bell crank rotates from a first rotational position to a second rotational position around the first rotational axis in response to the transition of the door handle from the second state to the third state, and rotates from a second rotational position to a third rotational position around the first rotational axis in response to the transition of the door handle from the third state to the fourth state. The second bell crank rotates from the fourth rotation position to the fifth rotation position around the second rotation axis in accordance with the transition of the door handle from the third state to the fourth state. The lever is connected to the first bell crank and the second bell crank such that the second bell crank rotates from the fourth rotation position to the fifth rotation position in conjunction with the rotation of the first bell crank from the second rotation position to the third rotation position. The rotation of the second bell crank from the fourth rotation position to the fifth rotation position mechanically operates the door latch device so as to unlock it. Door handle device .

[0057] [Note 2] The lever is connected to the first bell crank so as not to cause rotation of the second bell crank in conjunction with the rotation of the first bell crank from the first rotation position to the second rotation position, as described in Appendix 1. Door handle device .

[0058] [Note 3] The first bell crank has vertical projections, The lever has a hole at one end into which the projection is inserted, and a supported portion at the other end that is rotatably supported by the second bell crank. The aforementioned hole is in the form of an elongated hole, such that the projection can be displaced along the longitudinal direction of the hole. The projection displaces relative to the hole in conjunction with the rotation of the first bell crank from the first rotation position to the second rotation position, while it remains immobile relative to the hole when the first bell crank rotates from the second rotation position to the third rotation position, as described in Appendix 2. Door handle device .

[0059] [Note 4] The second stroke amount is greater than the first stroke amount, as specified in any one of the items 1 to 3. Door handle device .

[0060] [Note 5] The rotation of the first bell crank from the first rotation position to the second rotation position causes the electrical signal to be generated by the signal generation unit, as described in any one of the appendices 1 to 4. Door handle device . [Explanation of Symbols]

[0061] 1 Door handle device 2 Door outer panel, 3 Door outside handle (door handle), 6 Door lock actuator (door latch drive unit), 9 Latch activation switch (signal generation unit), 20 Mechanism, 30 Door latch device, 712 Rotating shaft (first rotating shaft), 722 Rotating shaft (second rotating shaft), 76 Pin (projection), 82 Hole, 88 Shaft hole (supported part)

Claims

1. A door handle that is provided on the door outer panel side and becomes operable through a first state in which it is retracted along the surface of the door outer panel, and a second state in which it protrudes from the surface of the door outer panel, A mechanism that, in response to user operation in the second state, transitions the door handle to a third state in which it is pulled out by a first stroke amount further than the second state, and in response to user operation in the third state, transitions it to a fourth state in which it is pulled out by a second stroke amount further than the third state, A signal generation unit generates an electrical signal based on the movement of the door handle from the second state to the third state, A door latch device mechanically connected to the aforementioned mechanism, The system includes a door latch drive unit that electrically drives the door latch device to unlock it based on the aforementioned electrical signal, The aforementioned mechanism includes a first bell crank, a second bell crank, and a lever. The first bell crank rotates from a first rotational position to a second rotational position around the first rotational axis in response to the transition of the door handle from the second state to the third state, and rotates from a second rotational position to a third rotational position around the first rotational axis in response to the transition of the door handle from the third state to the fourth state. The second bell crank rotates from the fourth rotation position to the fifth rotation position around the second rotation axis in accordance with the transition of the door handle from the third state to the fourth state. The lever is connected to the first bell crank and the second bell crank such that the second bell crank rotates from the fourth rotation position to the fifth rotation position in conjunction with the rotation of the first bell crank from the second rotation position to the third rotation position. A door locking device wherein the rotation of the second bell crank from the fourth rotation position to the fifth rotation position mechanically operates the door latch device so as to unlock it.

2. The door lock device according to claim 1, wherein the lever is connected to the first bell crank so as not to cause rotation of the second bell crank in conjunction with the rotation of the first bell crank from a first rotation position to a second rotation position.

3. The first bell crank has vertical projections, The lever has a hole at one end into which the projection is inserted, and a supported portion at the other end that is rotatably supported by the second bell crank. The aforementioned hole is in the form of an elongated hole, such that the projection can be displaced along the longitudinal direction of the hole. The door lock device according to claim 2, wherein the projection is displaced relative to the hole in conjunction with the rotation of the first bell crank from the first rotation position to the second rotation position, but becomes unable to be displaced relative to the hole when the first bell crank rotates from the second rotation position to the third rotation position.

4. The door lock device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the rotation of the first bell crank from a first rotation position to a second rotation position causes the electrical signal to be generated in the signal generation unit.

Images