Vehicle door handle device

Abstract

The present invention provides a vehicle door handle device that allows for easy installation of a plate even when the vertical width of the door panel opening is short. [Solution] The door handle device is attached to an opening in a vehicle door panel and includes a plate that covers the opening. The door panel has a flange that protrudes inward from the edge of the opening. A first hole is provided in the flange. The plate has a claw portion that can engage with the first hole.

Description

[[Technical Field]]

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a structure including an outer panel having an opening, a door handle, and a bracket supporting the door handle, wherein in order to fix the door handle to the outer panel, a mounting portion provided with an insertion hole protrudes toward the inner side of the opening of the outer panel. [[Prior Art Literature]] [[Patent Literature]]

[0003] [[Patent Document 1]] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-145212 [[Summary of the Invention]] [[Problem to be Solved by the Invention]]

[0004] When a door handle has a grip portion on the inner side thereof and it is desired to reduce the height of the door handle, there is no space for causing a mounting portion provided with an insertion hole to protrude toward the inner side of an opening of an outer panel, which poses a problem that it is difficult to attach the door handle to the outer panel.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a door handle device for a vehicle that can easily perform plate attachment even when the vertical width of an opening of a door panel is narrow. [[Means for Solving the Problem]]

[0006] A vehicle door handle device according to one aspect of the present invention is attached to an opening provided in a vehicle door panel and comprises a plate that covers the opening. The door panel has a flange that protrudes inward from the edge of the opening. A first hole is provided in the flange. The plate has a claw portion that can engage with the first hole. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, a door handle device for a vehicle can be provided that allows for easy installation of a plate even when the vertical width of the door panel opening is short. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a front view showing an example of the configuration of a vehicle door handle device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a rear view showing an example of the configuration of a vehicle door handle device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] Figure 3 shows an example of the configuration of a vehicle door panel according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] Figure 4 shows an example of the configuration of a plate according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] Figure 5 shows a state in which a plate is attached to a door panel in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the door panel with the plate attached. [Figure 7] Figure 7 shows an example of the configuration of a bracket according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8A] Figure 8A shows an example of the configuration of a bracket according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8B] Figure 8B shows an example of the configuration of a bracket according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9]Figure 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the engagement relationship between the flange of the door panel 1, the claw portion of the plate, and the projection of the bracket in a door handle device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view from inside a vehicle showing a part of a door handle device according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which the bracket is attached to the plate. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings referred to in the following description, identical or similar parts are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals. However, it should be noted that the drawings are schematic, and the ratios of thickness and length of each part may differ from those of reality.

[0010] (Example configuration) Figure 1 is a diagram showing an example configuration of a vehicle door handle device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is a view of the door handle device 100 from the outside of the vehicle. Figure 2 is a diagram showing an example configuration of a vehicle door handle device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is a view of the door handle device 100 from the inside of the vehicle. Figure 3 is a diagram showing an example configuration of a vehicle door panel 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is a view of the door panel 1 from the inside of the vehicle. Figure 4 is a diagram showing an example configuration of a plate 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is a view of the plate 2 from the inside of the vehicle.

[0011] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the door handle device 100 includes a plate (i.e., an escutcheon) 2 attached to a vehicle door panel 1 having an opening 11 and covering the opening 11, a bracket 3 attached to the plate 2, a decorative finisher 4 positioned corresponding to the upper edge 11UE of the opening 11 of the door panel 1, an emergency key cylinder 5, and an opener switch 6 for opening the door (see Figure 9 below).

[0012] The decorative finisher 4 is arranged on the vehicle outer side of the door panel 1 at a position corresponding to the upper edge 11UE of the opening 11 of the door panel. The decorative finisher 4 is fixed to the door panel 1 from the vehicle inner side, for example. Alternatively, the decorative finisher 4 may be fixed to the bracket 3 from the vehicle inner side. As a fixing method, fastening using a screw is exemplified, but it is not limited thereto. For example, it may be fixed by a method such as snap fitting.

[0013] The opener switch 6 is a handle (lever) including a switch for opening a vehicle door. The opener switch 6 is arranged at a position corresponding to the upper edge 11UE of the opening 11 and on the back side of the decorative finisher 4. That is, the opener switch 6 is arranged more inward of the vehicle than the decorative finisher 4. The opener switch 6 is supported by the bracket 3.

[0014] For example, the door handle device 100 employs an intelligent key. A switch for unlocking all doors of the vehicle is provided on the back surface side of the opener switch 6 (that is, the surface on the inner side of the vehicle). This switch is, for example, a contact sensor. When a passenger carrying a portable transceiver of the intelligent key brings a hand into contact with the switch on the back side of the opener switch 6, a door lock actuator or the like is operated by an electric signal to unlock all doors of the vehicle.

[0015] The opener switch 6 is pivotally supported by the bracket 3 such that it can slightly rotate and move toward the decorative finisher 4 side, for example. The rotation axis of the opener switch 6 is parallel or substantially parallel to the front-rear direction of the vehicle. When the passenger lightly pulls the opener switch 6 toward this side (that is, the decorative finisher 4 side), a door latch or the like is operated by an electric signal, and the door is brought into a half-open state.

[0016] As shown in Figure 3, the door panel 1 includes a flange 12 protruding toward the vehicle interior from the lower edge 11LE of the opening 11. The flange 12 is provided with a through hole h1 penetrating the flange 12 in the thickness direction. The through hole h1 is an example of the "first hole" in the present invention. For example, as the through hole h1, two through holes h1a and h1b may be provided. The flange portion 12 is provided on the lower edge 11LE of the opening 11, but may alternatively be provided on the upper edge 11UE of the opening 11. When the flange portion 12 is provided on the lower edge 11LE of the opening 11, the door handle device can be supported by the flange portion 12 when the door handle device is fixed to the door panel, which improves workability during installation. In addition, since the work site during the installation work is concentrated on the lower side where the work space is relatively large, workability during installation is further improved.

[0017] As shown in Figure 4, the plate 2 includes a claw portion 21 protruding downward from the lower end 2LE thereof. The claw portion 21 is provided with a through hole h2 penetrating the claw portion 21 between the vehicle inner side (hereinafter also referred to as the back side) and the vehicle outer side (hereinafter also referred to as the front side). The through hole h2 is an example of the "second hole" in the present invention. For example, the plate 2 has, as the claw portions 21, two claw portions 21a and 21b corresponding to the through holes h1a and h1b. Further, the claw portions 21a and 21b are respectively provided with through holes h2a and h2b. The material constituting the plate 2 is not particularly limited, but for example, the plate 2 is made of resin formed by an injection molding method.

[0018] Figure 5 shows a state in which the plate 2 is attached to the door panel 1 in an embodiment of the present invention, and is a view from the inside of the vehicle. As shown in Figure 5, the claw portion 21 of the plate 2 is inserted into the through hole h1 of the flange 12. For example, the plate 2 is positioned to cover the opening 11 from the outside of the vehicle. In this case, the plate 2 is tilted diagonally with its lower end 2LE toward the inside of the vehicle relative to the opening 11, and the claw portions 21a and 21b are inserted into the through holes h1a and h1b, respectively. Then, the upper end of the plate 2 is raised starting from the claw portions 21a and 21b, so that the plate 2 is in a position parallel to the door panel 1, and the claw portions 21a and 21b are fully inserted into the through holes h1a and h1b, respectively. As a result, the through holes h2a and h2b of the claw portions 21a and 21b are positioned below the flange 12.

[0019] Figure 6 is a view from above the vehicle showing the door panel 1 with the plate 2 attached, and is a cross-sectional view taken by cutting along a plane perpendicular to the height direction of the door panel 1. As shown in Figure 6, the plate 2 has a screw receiving portion 22 for fixing the bracket 3 to the back side of the plate 2. The screw receiving portion 22 is provided on the back side of the plate 2 and is not visible on the front side of the plate 2. A screw 42 (see Figure 2 above), not shown, is screwed into the screw receiving portion 22 through an insertion portion 31 provided on the bracket 3 (i.e., fitted into it). The position of the screw receiving portion 22 is not particularly limited, but for example, the screw receiving portion 22 is provided on the outer circumference of the plate 2.

[0020] Plate 2 has an opening 23 that exposes the keyhole 51 of the emergency key cylinder 5, and a cover 24 that covers the opening surface of the opening 23. The emergency key cylinder 5 is an emergency cylinder lock used when the doors cannot be locked or unlocked using the portable transceiver due to reasons such as a decrease in the capacity of the vehicle's battery or a dead battery in the intelligent key's portable transceiver. Since the emergency key cylinder 5 is not normally used, the cover 24 is detachably attached to plate 2 so as to cover the opening 23 that exposes the keyhole 51 of the key cylinder 5 from the outside of the vehicle.

[0021] For example, the front side of plate 2 is provided with a recess 25 for the passenger to insert their hand. The opening 23 that exposes the keyhole 51 of the key cylinder 5 and the cover 24 that covers it may be provided on either the left or right side of the recess 25 (i.e., either the front or rear side of the vehicle). Figure 6 illustrates the case where the opening 23 and cover 24 are provided on the rear side of the vehicle. Because the mounting position of the cover 24 is on the side of the recess 25, the cover 24 is not conspicuous when viewed from the front from outside the vehicle (i.e., when viewing the door handle device 100 from the front from outside the vehicle). Furthermore, it is preferable that the cover 24 has the same or nearly the same color as the side of the recess 25. This makes the cover 24 even less conspicuous.

[0022] Figure 7 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of bracket 3 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is a view of bracket 3 from the outside (front side) of the vehicle. Figures 8A and 8B are diagrams showing an example of the configuration of bracket 3 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and are views of bracket 3 from the inside (back side) of the vehicle. Figure 8A shows the state before the sliding part 33 slides outwards from the vehicle, and Figure 8B shows the state after the sliding part 33 slides outwards from the vehicle. Bracket 3 is a component that supports the opener switch 6 (Figure 9, described later) of the door handle device 100, the emergency key cylinder 5, etc.

[0023] As shown in Figures 6, 7, 8A, and 8B, the bracket 3 has an insertion portion 31 through which a screw is passed to attach the bracket 3 to the plate 2, a support portion 32 for supporting the emergency key cylinder 5, openings 36a and 36b at the lower end 3LE of the bracket 3 that are positioned to correspond to the through hole h2 of the flange 12, guide portions 37a and 37b at the lower end 3LE of the bracket 3 that hold the slide portion 33 (described later) so that it can slide in the inward and outward directions of the vehicle, and a screw receiving portion 35 that comes into contact with the slide portion 33 when it slides outward from the vehicle and is screwed into a screw 41 (see Figure 10 described later) for fixing the slide portion 33.

[0024] As shown in Figures 7, 8A, and 8B, the slide portion 33 has guided portions 333a and 333b that are slidably held by the guide portions 37a and 37b of the bracket 3, two protrusions 331a and 331b as a projection 331, and an insertion portion 332 through which a screw 41 is inserted. The projections 331 are provided to protrude outward from the vehicle so as to correspond to the openings 36a and 36b of the bracket 3, respectively, and are located at the outer end of the slide portion 33. In Figure 8A, with the screw 41 passed through the insertion portion 332 and the tip of the screw 41 screwed into the screw receiving portion 35, the screw 41 is rotated clockwise (i.e., in the fastening direction). As a result, the slide portion 33 is pushed by the screw 41 and moves outward from the vehicle as shown in Figure 8B. As the sliding portion 33 moves outward from the vehicle, the protrusions 331a and 331b of the sliding portion 33 penetrate into the inside of the openings 36a and 36b. That is, the protrusions 331a and 331b of the sliding portion 33 are inserted into the through holes h2a and h2b of the claw portions 21a and 21b of the plate 2, which are inserted into the openings 36a and 36b, respectively.

[0025] As shown in Figure 10, the tips of the protrusions 331a and 331b are provided with ribs 334a and 334b ​​that project downward toward the vehicle. The ribs 334a and 334b ​​are provided with inclined surfaces 335a and 335b that are inclined toward the sliding direction of the slide portion 33. Therefore, when the screw 41 is rotated clockwise until the insertion portion 332 abuts against the screw receiving portion 35, the lower edges of the through holes h2a and h2b of the claw portions 21a and 21b slide against the inclined surfaces 335a and 335b and ride up onto the ribs 334a and 334b. This generates a force that presses the plate 2 downward toward the vehicle, suppressing vertical rattle of the plate 2 relative to the bracket 3. Furthermore, when the screw is tightened after the slide portion 33 abuts against the screw receiving portion 35, the slide portion 33 is fixed to the bracket 3 in a state where it is slid toward the outside of the vehicle. This secures the bracket 3 to the plate 2. Subsequently, screws (not shown) may be screwed into the insertion portion 31 and tightened. This reinforces the attachment of the bracket 3 to the plate 2.

[0026] Figure 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the engagement relationship between the flange 12 of the door panel 1, the claw portion 21 of the plate 2, and the projection 331 of the bracket 3 in a door handle device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view from the inside of the vehicle showing a part of the door handle device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, with the bracket 3 attached to the plate 2. As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the claw portion 21 of the plate 2 is inserted into and engaged with the through hole of the flange 12. In this state, the projection of the bracket 3 is inserted into and engaged with the through hole of the claw portion 21. As a result, the bracket 3 is fixed to the door panel 1 via the plate 2.

[0027] (Effects of the embodiment) As described above, the vehicle door handle device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a plate 2 that is attached to a vehicle door panel 1 having an opening 11 and covers the opening 11. The door panel 1 has a flange 12 that protrudes inward from the edge of the opening 11 (for example, the lower edge 11LE). The flange 12 is provided with a through hole h1. The plate 2 has a claw portion 21 that can engage with the through hole h1. With this, the plate 2 is attached to the door panel 1 using the flange 12 that protrudes inward from the vehicle. By making the flange 12 protrude inward from the vehicle and engaging the claw portion 21 with the through hole h1 of the flange 12, it is possible to easily attach the plate 2 even when the vertical width of the opening 11 of the door panel 1 is short.

[0028] The door handle device 100 further includes a bracket 3 that is attached to the plate 2. The bracket 3 has a projection 331 that can engage with the claw portion 21. With this, the bracket 3 is attached to the plate 2 using the claw portion 21 that protrudes from the through hole h1. By engaging the projection 331 with the claw portion 21, the bracket 3 can be attached to the plate 2 without hindering the attachment of the plate 2 to the door panel 1.

[0029] The claw portion 21 of plate 2 has a through hole h2. The projection 331 of the bracket is inserted into the through hole h2. In this way, the bracket 3 is attached to plate 2 using the through hole h2 of the claw portion 21. By engaging the projection 331 with the through hole h2 of the claw portion 21, it becomes possible to easily attach the bracket 3.

[0030] Bracket 3 has a sliding portion 33 that can slide outwards from the vehicle. The projection 331 is located at the outer end of the sliding portion 33. As the sliding portion 33 slides outwards from the vehicle, the projection 331 is inserted into the through hole h2 of the claw portion 21. This makes it possible to easily insert the projection 331 into the through hole h2.

[0031] After the plate 2 is attached to the door panel 1, the bracket 3 is attached to the plate 2. This allows the plate 2 to be attached to the door panel 1 without being obstructed by the bracket 3.

[0032] Plate 2 is attached to the door panel 1 from the outside of the vehicle, and bracket 3 is attached to plate 2 from the inside of the vehicle. This arrangement may make it easier to attach plate 2 compared to attaching plate 2 to the door panel 1 from the inside of the vehicle.

[0033] (Other embodiments) As described above, the present invention has been described by embodiments, but the descriptions and drawings that constitute part of this disclosure should not be understood as limiting the invention. Various alternative embodiments and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure. For example, the second hole of the present invention is not limited to a through hole. The second hole of the present invention may be any hole into which a projection of the bracket can be inserted, and may be a non-through hole that does not penetrate the claw portion. Also, the number of first holes in the flange, claw portions that can engage with the first hole, and projections that engage with the claw portions are not limited to two, but may be three or more, for example. Furthermore, the first hole and the second hole may be U-shaped (or C-shaped) with a part of their edge open.

[0034] Thus, this technology naturally includes various embodiments not described herein. Within the scope of the embodiments described above, at least one of various omissions, substitutions, and modifications of the components can be made. Furthermore, the effects described herein are merely illustrative and not limiting, and other effects may also exist. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0035] 1…Door panel, 2…Plate (escutcheon), 2LE, 3LE…Lower end, 3…Bracket, 4…Decorative finisher, 5…Key cylinder, 6…Opener switch (lever), 11, 23…Opening, 11LE…Lower edge, 11UE…Upper edge, 12…Flange, 21, 21a, 21b…Claw, 22, 35…Receiving part, 24…Cover, 31, 332…Through part, 32…Support part, 33…Sliding part, 51…Keyhole, 100…Door handle device, 331, 331a, 331b…Protrusion, h1, h1a, h1b…Through hole (first hole), h2, h2a, h2b…Through hole (second hole)

Claims

1. It is attached to an opening in a vehicle door panel and includes a plate that covers the opening, The aforementioned plate has a claw portion that can engage with a first hole provided in a flange that protrudes inward from the edge of the opening, and is a door handle device for a vehicle.

2. The plate further comprises a bracket that is attached to the aforementioned plate, The door handle device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the bracket has a projection that can engage with the claw portion.

3. The aforementioned claw portion has a second hole, The aforementioned projection is inserted into the second hole, as described in claim 2, for a vehicle door handle device.

4. The bracket has a sliding portion that can slide outwards from the vehicle, The projection is located at the outer end of the vehicle in the sliding portion. The door handle device for a vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the sliding portion slides outward from the vehicle, causing the projection to be inserted into the second hole.

5. A door handle device for a vehicle according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the plate is attached to the door panel, and then the bracket is attached to the plate.

6. The door handle device for a vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the plate is attached to the door panel from the outside of the vehicle, and the bracket is attached to the plate from the inside of the vehicle.

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