Vehicle door handle device

Abstract

The edges of the cover that surrounds the key cylinder lock are exposed on the surface, making the edges of the cover easily visible, but it detracts from the appearance. This invention provides a vehicle door handle device that improves the appearance. [Solution] A vehicle door handle device is attached to an opening in a vehicle door panel and includes an escutcheon that covers the opening. An emergency door lever is positioned above the escutcheon and corresponding to the upper edge of the opening.

Description

[[Technical Field]]

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an outside door handle device for a vehicle, which includes a handle body, an emergency key cylinder lock used when a door cannot be unlocked by a portable transmitter / receiver of a smart entry system, and a cover that covers the key cylinder lock. [[Prior Art Documents]] [[Patent Documents]]

[0003] [[Patent Document 1]] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-295063 [[Summary of the Invention]] [[Problem to be Solved by the Invention]]

[0004] In the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, an end of the cover that covers the key cylinder lock is exposed on the surface. If the end of the cover is easily visible, the appearance is impaired.

[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 improve appearance. [[Means for Solving the Problem]]

[0006] A door handle device for a vehicle according to an aspect of the present invention includes an escutcheon attached to an opening provided in a vehicle door panel to cover the opening. An emergency door lever is arranged at a position corresponding to an upper portion of the escutcheon and an upper edge of the opening. [[Effects of the Invention]]

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, a vehicle door handle device that enables improved appearance can be provided. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 shows 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 front view showing an example of the configuration of a door handle device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of a door handle device according to an embodiment of the present invention, viewed from diagonally below. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a rear view showing an example of the configuration of a vehicle door panel according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the positional relationship between the opener switch and the emergency door lever in a vehicle door handle device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view showing an emergency key cylinder and a cover that covers the keyhole of the key cylinder in a vehicle door handle device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [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 door handle device 100 for a vehicle 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 door handle device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is a view of the door handle device 100 from below, looking up from the outside of the vehicle. Figure 3 is a diagram showing an example configuration of a 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 4 is a diagram showing an example configuration of a door panel 1 for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is a view of the door panel 1 from the inside of the vehicle. Figure 5 is a diagram showing an example configuration of a door handle device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view of the door handle device 100 shown in Figure 1, cut along the SA-SA line. Figure 6 is a diagram showing an example configuration of a door handle device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view of the door handle device 100 shown in Figure 1, cut along the SB-SB line.

[0011] As shown in Figures 1 to 6, the door handle device 100 includes an escutcheon (i.e., a plate) 2 attached to a vehicle door panel 1 having an opening 11 and covering the opening 11, a bracket 3 attached to the escutcheon 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, an opener switch 6, an emergency door lever 7, and a switch 8 for locking and unlocking all doors of the vehicle.

[0012] The decorative finisher 4 is positioned on the exterior side of the door panel 1, corresponding to the upper edge 11UE of the door panel opening 11. The decorative finisher 4 is fixed to the door panel 1 from the inside of the vehicle, for example. Alternatively, the decorative finisher 4 may be fixed to the bracket 3 from the inside of the vehicle. A screw fastening method is an example of how it is fixed.

[0013] The opener switch 6 is a handle (lever) that includes a switch for opening the vehicle door. The opener switch 6 is located at a position corresponding to the upper edge 11UE of the opening 11, and is positioned on the back side of the decorative finisher 4. The opener switch 6 is located inside the vehicle relative to 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. On the back side of the opener switch 6 (i.e., the side facing the vehicle interior), there is a switch for unlocking all the doors of the vehicle. This switch is, for example, a contact sensor. When a passenger carrying the intelligent key transmitter / receiver touches the switch on the back side of the opener switch 6, an electrical signal activates the door lock actuator and other components, unlocking all the doors of the vehicle.

[0015] The opener switch 6 is pivotally supported on the bracket 3 so that it can rotate slightly, for example, toward the decorative finisher 4. As shown in Figure 5, the axis of rotation 61 of the opener switch 6 is parallel or approximately parallel to the front-to-back direction of the vehicle (for example, the depth direction of the paper in Figure 5). When an occupant lightly pulls the opener switch 6 toward them (i.e. toward the decorative finisher 4), an electrical signal activates the door latch, etc., and the door is left half-open.

[0016] The emergency door lever 7 is an emergency operating lever used when the electric door opening operation by the opener switch 6 is not possible, for example, due to a decrease in the capacity of the vehicle's battery. By manually rotating the emergency door lever 7 by pushing it from the bottom of the vehicle upwards, the occupant can mechanically activate the door latch and leave the door partially open.

[0017] The emergency door lever 7 is arranged at a position corresponding to the upper side of the escutcheon 2 and the upper edge 11UE of the opening 11. For example, the emergency door lever 7 is located on the upper edge 11UE of the opening 11, and is arranged on either one of the vehicle front side and the vehicle rear side. FIG. 2 illustrates an example where the emergency door lever 7 is arranged on the vehicle front side.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 5, the emergency door lever 7 is rotatably supported by a rotation shaft 71 that is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the door panel 1. The rotation shaft 71 is parallel or substantially parallel to the inward-outward direction of the vehicle (for example, the left-right direction of the paper surface in FIG. 5). The direction of the rotation shaft 71 of the emergency door lever 7 is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the direction of the rotation shaft 61 of the opener switch 6.

[0019] The rotation shaft 71 is located outside the opening 11 when viewed from the front from the vehicle outside (that is, when the door handle device 100 is viewed from the front from the vehicle outside). For example, the rotation shaft 71 is arranged at a position above the upper edge 11UE of the opening 11 and hidden by the door panel 1 when viewed from the front from the vehicle outside. In addition, the rotating end 72 of the emergency door lever 7, that is, the tip end of the emergency door lever 7, is also located outside the opening 11 when viewed from the front from the vehicle outside. For example, the rotating end 72 of the emergency door lever 7 is also arranged at a position above the upper edge 11UE of the opening 11 and hidden by the door panel 1 when viewed from the front from the vehicle outside.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 5, the emergency door lever 7 is arranged on the vehicle inner side relative to the opener switch 6. The emergency door lever 7 is arranged on the back side of the opener switch 6 (that is, the surface on the vehicle inner side).

[0021] As shown in FIG. 2, the switch 8 is located above the opening 11, and is arranged on either one of the vehicle front side and the vehicle rear side. In this example, the emergency door lever 7 is arranged on the vehicle front side of the upper edge 11UE of the opening 11. The switch 8 is arranged on the vehicle rear side above the opening 11 so that a hand or the like does not touch the emergency door lever 7 when operating the switch 8.

[0022] As shown in Figures 1, 2, and 6, the escutcheon 2 has a cover 24 that covers the keyhole 51 of the emergency key cylinder 5. The emergency key cylinder 5 is an emergency cylinder lock used when the doors cannot be locked or unlocked by the switch 8 or the portable transceiver due to, for example, 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 the escutcheon body so as to cover the keyhole 51 of the key cylinder 5 from the outside of the vehicle.

[0023] The front side of the escutcheon 2 is provided with a recess 25 for the passenger to insert their hand into. The cover 24 that covers the keyhole 51 is provided on one side of this recess 25 (i.e., either the front or rear side of the vehicle). In this example, the emergency door lever 7 is located on the front side of the upper edge 11UE of the opening 11. The cover 24 is located on the rear side of the vehicle to prevent the emergency door lever 7 from being touched by a hand or other object when inserting a key into the emergency key cylinder 5 and operating it, and the emergency key cylinder 5 is located behind the cover 24.

[0024] Since the cover 24 is mounted on the side of the recess 25, the cover 24 is not noticeable when viewed from the front 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 noticeable. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 1, the vehicle's vertical width of the escutcheon 2 differs between the front and rear of the vehicle, tapering from the rear to the front. Since the keyhole 51 is mounted on the rear side of the vehicle, where the vehicle's vertical width is wider, there is ample space for operating the key, making it easier to operate. On the other hand, since the emergency door lever 7 is located on the front side of the vehicle where the vertical width is narrower, the emergency door lever 7 is difficult to see, improving the overall appearance.

[0025] Bracket 3 is a component that supports, for example, an emergency key cylinder 5, an opener switch 6, an emergency door lever 7, and a switch 8. The opener switch 6 is supported by bracket 3 via a pivot shaft 61. The emergency door lever 7 is supported by bracket 3 via a pivot shaft 71. Bracket 3 is fastened to the door panel 1 from the inside of the vehicle. For example, in Figures 1 and 6, the escutcheon 2 is fixed to the door panel 1 from the inside of the vehicle. Bracket 3 is fitted into the screw receiving portion 22 provided on the outer circumference of the escutcheon 2 by screwing in a screw 42. At least, bracket 3 is fixed to the escutcheon 2 using the screw 42. In this way, bracket 3 is fastened to the door panel 1 via the escutcheon 2 from the inside of the vehicle.

[0026] (Effects of the embodiment) As described above, the vehicle door handle device according to the embodiment of the present invention includes an escutcheon 2 that is attached to a vehicle door panel 1 having an opening 11 and covers the opening 11. An emergency door lever 7 is positioned above the escutcheon 2 and corresponding to the upper edge 11UE of the opening 11. As a result, the emergency door lever 7 is positioned above the escutcheon 2 and on the inside of the door panel 1 (for example, on the back side of the decorative finisher 4), making it difficult to see from the outside of the vehicle. This improves the appearance (looks, aesthetics) of the door handle device 1.

[0027] The door handle device 100 further includes an opener switch 6 for opening the door, positioned at a location corresponding to the upper edge 11UE of the opening 11. The emergency door lever 7 is positioned on the vehicle side relative to the opener switch 6. This makes it easier for passengers to touch the opener switch 6 along with the door panel 1 (or the decorative finisher 4 attached to the door panel 1) when opening the door. Because the opener switch 6 is located near the door panel 1 (or the decorative finisher 4), a high level of convenience when opening the door can be maintained.

[0028] The emergency door lever 7 is rotatably supported on a rotation axis 71 perpendicular to the door panel 1. This prevents the emergency door lever 7 from operating (rotating) due to the inertial force generated by a load applied from the side of the vehicle.

[0029] The rotation axis 71 of the emergency door lever 7 is located outside the opening 11 when viewed from the outside of the vehicle. The rotation end 72 of the emergency door lever 7 is located inside the opening 11 when viewed from the outside of the vehicle. As a result, the emergency door lever 7 is less visible from the outside of the vehicle, which further improves the appearance of the door handle device 100.

[0030] The door handle device 100 further includes a bracket 3 that is fastened to the door panel 1 from the inside of the vehicle. The emergency door lever 7 is attached to the bracket 3. By positioning the emergency door lever 7 on the bracket 3 rather than the escutcheon 2, it becomes less visible from the outside of the vehicle, thus further improving the appearance of the door handle device 100.

[0031] The emergency door lever 7 is positioned so that, when viewed from the front, it overlaps with at least a portion of the opener switch 6. This makes it easier for the passenger's hand to touch the emergency door lever 7 when operating the opener switch 6, so that the passenger can easily find the emergency lever 7 even if they cannot see it.

[0032] (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 pivot axis 71 supporting the emergency door lever 7 may not be perpendicular to the door panel 1, but may be approximately perpendicular. The direction of the pivot axis 71 of the emergency door lever 7 is not limited to perpendicular or approximately perpendicular to the direction of the pivot axis 61 of the opener switch 6, but may intersect with it. Also, the operating direction of the emergency door lever 7 is not limited to pushing from bottom to top, but may be operated in the direction of pulling from top to bottom. Furthermore, although the rotating end 72 of the emergency door lever 7 is located outside the opening 11 when viewed from the front outside the vehicle, the rotating end 72 may be located inside the opening 11 if, for example, it is obscured by the decorative finisher 4. Moreover, the emergency door lever 7 is not limited to a lever shape, but may be, for example, a ring shape in which a wire is operated by hooking a finger and pulling.

[0033] 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]

[0034] 1...Door panel, 2...Escutcheon (plate), 3...Bracket, 4...Decorative finisher, 5...Key cylinder, 6...Opener switch, 7...Emergency door lever, 8...Switch, 11...Opening, 11UE...Upper edge, 22...Receiving part, 24...Cover, 51...Keyhole, 61, 71...Rotating shaft, 100...Door handle device

Claims

1. It is attached to an opening in a vehicle door panel and includes an escutcheon that covers the opening, A vehicle door handle device in which an emergency door lever is positioned above the escutcheon and corresponding to the upper edge of the opening.

2. The door is further provided with an opener switch for opening the door, located at a position corresponding to the upper edge of the opening. The vehicle door handle device according to claim 1, wherein the emergency door lever is positioned on the inside of the vehicle relative to the opener switch.

3. The emergency door lever is rotatably supported on a rotation axis perpendicular to the door panel, as described in claim 1 or 2, for a vehicle door handle device.

4. The pivot axis of the emergency door lever is located outside the opening when viewed from the front outside the vehicle. The door handle device for a vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the rotating end of the emergency door lever is located inside the opening in the front view.

5. The aforementioned door panel is further provided with a bracket that is fastened from the inside of the vehicle, The emergency door lever is attached to the bracket, as described in claim 1 or 2, for a vehicle door handle device.

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