Door handle device for vehicle

Abstract

To prevent unintended opening of a vehicle door with a simple structure.SOLUTION: A door handle device for a vehicle comprises: a latch releasing handle that is stored inside a vehicle door and that can operate from the outside of the vehicle door through a door opening and releases a latch of the vehicle door when it is operated from a reference position to a prescribed releasing position; and a plate-like panel cover that can open / close the opening and moves from a closed position to an opened position in a door. The moving locus of the latch releasing handle between the reference position and the prescribed releasing position and the moving locus of the panel cover between the closed position and the opened position have ranges overlapping each other. The moving direction of the lath releasing handle from the reference position to the prescribed releasing position and the moving direction of the panel cover from the closed position to the opened position are opposed to each other. The latch releasing handle is position-regulated by interference with the panel covert before moving from the reference position to the prescribed releasing position in a state where the panel cover is positioned within the overlapping range near the closed position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 12

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle door handle device to be mounted on a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a vehicle door handle device that releases a latch of a vehicle door when an operating handle is operated by an operator to a predetermined release position is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The vehicle door handle device described in Patent Document 1 includes an inertia stopper. The inertia stopper is a member that rotates from a standby position to a restriction position due to a force applied when a side collision occurs to the vehicle. The inertia stopper is provided on a handle base fixed to the vehicle door. When the inertia stopper rotates to the restriction position, it restricts the operation of the operating handle before the operating handle reaches the predetermined release position. Therefore, even if an inertial force occurs during a vehicle side collision, the operating handle can be prevented from moving to the predetermined release position due to contact with the inertia stopper, and the vehicle door can be prevented from being unintentionally opened. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-125612 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, since the inertia stopper provided on the vehicle door side is a dedicated part for preventing unintentional opening of the vehicle door, the above-mentioned vehicle door handle device results in increased costs and a complex structure.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned points, and has an object to provide a vehicle door handle device that has a simple structure and is capable of preventing unintended opening of a vehicle door. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the present invention is a vehicle door handle device comprising: a latch release handle that is stored on the inner side of a vehicle door and can be operated from the outer side of the vehicle door through an opening provided in the vehicle door, and that releases the latch of the vehicle door when operated from a reference position to a predetermined release position; and a plate-shaped panel cover that can open and close the opening and moves inwardly of the vehicle door from a closed position that closes the opening to an open position that opens the opening, wherein a movement trajectory of the latch release handle between the reference position and the predetermined release position and a movement trajectory of the panel cover between the closed position and the open position have a mutually overlapping range, a movement direction of the latch release handle from the reference position to the predetermined release position and a movement direction of the panel cover from the closed position to the open position are opposite directions, and when the panel cover is located in the overlapping range near the closed position, the position of the latch release handle is restricted by interference with the panel cover before it reaches the predetermined release position from the reference position side.

[0007] According to this configuration, unintentional opening of the vehicle door can be prevented with a simple structure. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view of a vehicle door handle device according to an embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the outside of a door. [Diagram 2] 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle door handle device according to an embodiment, as viewed from the inside of a door. [Diagram 3] 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle door handle device according to an embodiment, showing an open / closed state, as viewed from outside a door; [Figure 4] 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle door handle device according to an embodiment (with an upper member of a base member removed), viewed from inside a door. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line V-V of FIG. [Figure 6] 1 is a perspective view of a main portion of a vehicle door handle device according to an embodiment, viewed from the inside of a door. [Figure 7] 1 is a perspective view of a main portion of a vehicle door handle device according to an embodiment, as viewed from outside the door. [Figure 8] 1 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a vehicle door handle device according to an embodiment (with a panel cover in an open position) taken at a predetermined location. [Figure 9] 1 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a vehicle door handle device according to an embodiment, in which a panel cover (with some components removed) is in an open position, taken at a predetermined location. [Figure 10] 2 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a normal opening and closing operation of the vehicle door handle device according to the embodiment; FIG. [Figure 11] 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle door handle device according to an embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a normal opening and closing operation thereof, as viewed from the inside of the door; [Figure 12] 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a position restriction of the latch release handle in the vehicle door handle device according to the embodiment when the vehicle door is in a closed door position when an impact load is applied to the vehicle door inward. FIG. [Figure 13] 5 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a positional restriction of the latch release handle in the vehicle door handle device of the embodiment when the vehicle door is in a closed door position when an impact load is input to the vehicle door outward. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, specific embodiments of a vehicle door handle device according to the present invention will be described. A vehicle door handle device 1 of this embodiment is a device for controlling a latch of a vehicle door 2 provided in a vehicle. The vehicle door handle device 1 releases the latch of the vehicle door 2 when a predetermined operation is performed on a latch release handle provided on the vehicle door 2.

[0010] The vehicle door 2 is a door that can be opened and closed relative to the vehicle body. The vehicle door 2 may be a boarding door through which vehicle occupants get on and off, a rear door through which luggage is loaded and unloaded, a bonnet for opening and closing an engine room, or a door cover for opening and closing a fuel filler or a charging port. The vehicle door 2 is latched by the vehicle door handle device 1 when closed relative to the vehicle body, and can be unlatched by a predetermined operation to be opened relative to the vehicle body. Note that the vehicle door 2 may be locked by a locking device (not shown) when latched, and unlocked by a predetermined unlocking operation. Also, a part of the vehicle door 2 is shown in each drawing.

[0011] Incidentally, when the vehicle door 2 is a door for getting in and out that has a built-in window that can be opened and closed, the door 2 may have an inner panel (not shown) on the inside of the vehicle, an outer panel 2a on the outside of the vehicle, and a gap space 2b between the inner panel and the outer panel 2a. The vehicle door handle device 1 is accommodated in the gap space 2b.

[0012] Hereinafter, the vehicle door 2 is assumed to be an entry / exit door having an outer panel 2a and a clearance space 2b, and is assumed to be provided on the left and right sides of the vehicle body. For convenience, the direction perpendicular to the plane in which the vehicle door 2 attached to the vehicle body extends is referred to as the inward / outward direction, and the direction extending horizontally within the plane in which the vehicle door 2 extends is referred to as the forward / backward direction. The inside side of the vehicle door 2 relative to a reference part or part is referred to as the door inner side, the outside side is referred to as the door outer side, the front side is referred to as the door front side, and the rear side is referred to as the door rear side.

[0013] The vehicle door handle device 1 is provided for each vehicle door 2 provided in the vehicle. When the vehicle doors 2 are applied to a plurality of vehicle entry / exit doors, the vehicle door handle device 1 may have a common shape or structure for each vehicle door 2, or may have a symmetrical shape or structure for the vehicle doors 2 on the left and right sides of the vehicle body.

[0014] The vehicle door handle device 1 includes a base member 10, a latch release handle 20, a panel cover 30, and a drive device 40, as shown in FIGS.

[0015] The base member 10 is a member that houses the latch release handle 20 and the panel cover 30 that constitute the vehicle door handle device 1, and also houses a part of the drive device 40. The base member 10 is formed to a size corresponding to the gap space 2b between the inner panel and the outer panel 2a, and is housed in the gap space 2b. The base member 10 is attached and fixed to the back side of the outer panel 2a. This attachment and fixation is performed, for example, by bolting or welding. The base member 10 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and has a lower member 11 and an upper member 12.

[0016] The lower member 11 is a storage box that forms a storage space 13 that houses the latch release handle 20 and the panel cover 30. As shown in Fig. 5, the lower member 11 has a bottom wall 11a and four side walls 11b erected from the four sides of the bottom wall 11a. The bottom wall 11a and each of the side walls 11b are formed in a rectangular shape. The bottom wall 11a and the four side walls 11b form the storage space 13. The storage space 13 has a necessary and sufficient size (capacity) for the latch release handle 20 and the panel cover 30 to move along a predetermined trajectory, respectively.

[0017] The bottom wall 11a faces the rear surface of the outer panel 2a. Two of the four side walls 11b face in the up-down direction and face each other. The remaining two side walls 11b face in the front-rear direction and face each other. The part of the lower member 11 facing the bottom wall 11a across the storage space 13 on the door inward side is open.

[0018] The upper member 12 is a cover member that closes the opening of the lower member 11 on the door inward side. The upper member 12 is formed in a substantially plate shape. The upper member 12 is attached and fixed to the lower member 11. The upper member 12 and the lower member 11 are attached and fixed, for example, by bolting or welding. The upper member 12 has a plate-shaped cover plate portion 12a and a side wall 12b (see Figures 5 and 7) that protrudes outward from the door outer side surface of the cover plate portion 12a. A pair of side walls 12b are provided and are arranged parallel to each other at positions separated in the front-rear direction of the cover plate portion 12a.

[0019] The vehicle door 2 (specifically, the outer panel 2a) has an opening 2d that exposes the gap space 2b to the door outer side of the vehicle door 2. The base member 10 is disposed in the vicinity of the opening 2d of the vehicle door 2. The bottom wall 11a of the lower member 11 has an opening 11c that exposes the storage space 13 of the base member 10 to the door outer side of the base member 10. The opening 11c of the lower member 11 is formed to be approximately the same size as the opening 2d of the outer panel 2a. The openings 2d, 11c are large enough to allow an operator's hand to be inserted. The lower member 11 and therefore the base member 10 are attached and fixed to the back side of the outer panel 2a so that the opening 11c of the bottom wall 11a communicates with the opening 2d of the outer panel 2a. The storage space 13 of the base member 10 can be exposed to the door outer side of the vehicle door 2.

[0020] The unlatch handle 20 is an operating part that performs an input operation (hereinafter referred to as an unlatch operation) to unlatch the vehicle door 2 when the vehicle door 2 is closed. The unlatch handle 20 can be operated to unlatch by an operator outside the vehicle. When the unlatch operation of the unlatch handle 20 is performed, the latch of the vehicle door 2 to the vehicle body is released and the vehicle door 2 is opened.

[0021] The latch release handle 20 is accommodated in the accommodation space 13 of the base member 10, and specifically, is disposed above the opening 11c within the accommodation space 13. The latch release handle 20 is formed in a handle shape and extends in the front-rear direction. The latch release handle 20 is rotatably supported on the base member 10 (specifically, on the two front and rear side walls 11b of the lower member 11). The latch release handle 20 can rotate about a horizontal axis. The latch release handle 20 is supported by being sandwiched between the side wall 11b of the lower member 11 and the side wall 12b of the upper member 12. The latch release handle 20 has a handle main body 21 and a pair of rotation shafts 22.

[0022] The handle main body 21 is an operating part that is touched by an operator's hand to perform a rotation operation (latch release operation). The handle main body 21 is formed in a plate shape. The handle main body 21 extends in the front-rear direction. The rotation shaft 22 is an axial part that rotates the handle main body 21 relative to the lower member 11 by the rotation of the rotation shaft 22. The rotation shaft 22 is formed in a columnar or cylindrical shape. The rotation shaft 22 is provided integrally with the end of the handle main body 21 in the front-rear direction. Of the pair of rotation shafts 22, the rotation shaft 22 on the door front side protrudes in the front direction. The rotation shaft 22 on the door rear side protrudes in the rear direction. The pair of rotation shafts 22 are arranged so that the directions in which their axis centers extend are consistent with each other.

[0023] A semicircular support hole 11d is provided in each of the two front and rear side walls 11b of the lower member 11. A semicircular support hole 12d is provided in each of the two front and rear side walls 12b of the upper member 12. The support hole 11d of the lower member 11 and the support hole 12d of the upper member 12 form a single circular support hole that supports the rotating shaft 22 when the upper member 12 is attached and fixed to the lower member 11. The two front and rear rotating shafts 22 are rotatably supported by the base member 10 while being fitted into the support hole 11d of the lower member 11 and the support hole 12d of the upper member 12, respectively.

[0024] As shown in Fig. 5, the latch release handle 20 is configured such that the handle body 21 extends radially outward from the pivot shaft 22. The latch release handle 20 is biased by a biasing member such as a torsion spring so that the handle body 21 rotates from the latch release position to the latched position. The biasing direction is the clockwise direction in Fig. 5 around the pivot shaft 22. The latch release handle 20 can be rotated (unlatched) from the latch position to the latch release position against the biasing force of the biasing member. The biasing direction is the counterclockwise direction in Fig. 5 around the pivot shaft 22.

[0025] The latch release handle 20 is released by the operator pulling the radial tip of the handle main body 21 from the latch position toward the outside of the door (toward the operator outside the vehicle) around the pivot axis 22.

[0026] The pivot shaft 22 is disposed on the door outer side within the accommodation space 13. One of the pair of pivot shafts 22 is connected to a door latch device (not shown). The above-mentioned latched position is a position where the vehicle door 2 is latched by the door latch device. The above-mentioned unlatched position is a position where the vehicle door 2 is unlatched by the door latch device.

[0027] At the latched position, the handle body 21 extends obliquely downward (specifically, toward the inside and downward of the door) from the rotation shaft 22 (the state shown in FIG. 5). The angle that the handle body 21 makes with a vertical line passing through the axis of the rotation shaft 22 at the latched position is greater than 0° and less than 90°, and is set to, for example, 45° so that an operator can easily insert his or her hand into the accommodation space 13 through the openings 2d, 11c to perform an unlatching operation of the handle body 21.

[0028] Furthermore, in the unlatch position, the handle body 21 extends substantially downward from the rotation shaft 22. The angle that the handle body 21 makes with a vertical line passing through the axis of the rotation shaft 22 in the unlatch position is set to be smaller than the angle that the handle body 21 makes with the vertical line passing through the axis of the rotation shaft 22 in the unlatch position. In the process in which the unlatch handle 20 moves from the latch position to the unlatch position, the radial tip of the handle body 21 moves outward from the door just before reaching the unlatch position.

[0029] The panel cover 30 is a member that opens and closes the opening 11c of the base member 10 and the opening 2d of the vehicle door 2. The panel cover 30 is formed in a plate shape so as to be larger than the openings 2d, 11c overall. The panel cover 30 is accommodated in the accommodation space 13 and disposed at substantially the same height as the opening 11c. The panel cover 30 can close the openings 2d, 11c and can move linearly inward and outward in the accommodation space 13. The panel cover 30 moves linearly between a closed position that closes the openings 2d, 11c and an open position that opens the openings 2d, 11c. Specifically, the panel cover 30 moves linearly inwardly of the door when moving from the closed position to the open position, and moves linearly outwardly of the door when moving from the open position to the closed position (see FIGS. 3(A) to (C)).

[0030] Within the accommodation space 13, the movement path of the unlatch handle 20 between the latch position and the unlatch position and the movement path of the panel cover 30 between the closed position and the open position overlap each other to some extent, which may cause the unlatch handle 20 and the panel cover 30 to interfere with each other.

[0031] The overlapping range is limited to a part of the movement locus of the latch release handle 20 and also to a part of the movement locus of the panel cover 30. Specifically, the movement area of ​​the latch release handle 20 near the latch release position including the latch release position and the movement area of ​​the panel cover 30 near the closed position including the closed position overlap with each other. That is, when the latch release handle 20 is located near the latch release position and the panel cover 30 is located near the closed position, the latch release handle 20 and the panel cover 30 may interfere with each other. On the other hand, the movement area of ​​the panel cover 30 near the open position including the open position does not overlap with the movement area of ​​the latch release handle 20. That is, when the panel cover 30 is located near the open position, no interference occurs between the latch release handle 20 and the panel cover 30. The timing at which the latch release handle 20 and the panel cover 30 interfere with each other will be described later.

[0032] When the latch release handle 20 is in the latched position, there is no interference between the panel cover 30 and the panel cover 30 as the panel cover 30 moves between the closed position and the open position. Also, when the panel cover 30 is in the open position, there is no interference between the latch release handle 20 and the panel cover 30 as the panel cover 30 moves between the latched position and the unlatched position.

[0033] The panel cover 30 has a blocking portion 31, a flange portion 32, an interference portion 33, and a guide portion 34 (see Figs. 6 to 8). The blocking portion 31 is a portion capable of blocking the openings 2d and 11c. The blocking portion 31 is provided on the door outer side portion of the panel cover 30. The blocking portion 31 has a size (area) corresponding to the size (area) of the openings 2d and 11c, and a thickness corresponding to the sum of the inner / outer thickness of the outer panel 2a near the opening 2d and the inner / outer thickness of the bottom wall 11a near the opening 11c. When the panel cover 30 is located in the closed position, the door outer side surface of the blocking portion 31 is flush with the surface of the outer panel 2a.

[0034] The flange portion 32 is a portion that spreads outward from the closing portion 31 in a plate shape. The flange portion 32 is provided around the entire periphery of the closing portion 31. The flange portion 32 forms the outer edge of the panel cover 30. The flange portion 32 is disposed facing the bottom wall 11a of the lower member 11 of the base member 10 and the cover plate portion 12a of the upper member 12. When the panel cover 30 is in the closed position, the flange portion 32 abuts against the bottom wall 11a of the lower member 11 to regulate the position of the panel cover 30. Note that a seal member such as an O-ring may be disposed between the flange portion 32 and the bottom wall 11a to ensure the sealing of the accommodation space 13.

[0035] The flange portion 32 is formed to have a size corresponding to the lower region of the storage space 13 of the base member 10, and is disposed in the lower region of the storage space 13. The outer edge of the flange portion 32 is guided in the door inward and outward directions so as to slide along the inner surface of the side wall 11b of the lower member 11 within the storage space 13 of the base member 10 when the panel cover 30 moves. Note that in the upper region of the storage space 13, the latch release handle 20 and an arm 42 of a drive unit 40, which will be described later, are disposed.

[0036] The guide portions 34 are portions that guide the panel cover 30 as it moves linearly in the door inward and outward directions. The guide portions 34 are provided at the front end and rear end of the flange portion 32. The front guide portion 34 protrudes forward from the front end of the flange portion 32. The rear guide portion 34 protrudes rearward from the rear end of the flange portion 32. The two guide portions 34 fit into guide grooves 11f provided in each of the front and rear side walls 11b of the lower member 11, and are guided in the door inward and outward directions along the guide grooves 11f when the panel cover 30 moves.

[0037] The blocking portion 31 protrudes outward from the door flange portion 32. The length of protrusion of the blocking portion 31 from the flange portion 32 corresponds to the thickness of the blocking portion 31, and is approximately equal to the sum of the inner / outer thickness of the outer panel 2a near the opening 2d and the inner / outer thickness of the bottom wall 11a near the opening 11c. The blocking portion 31 and the flange portion 32 are configured so that a step corresponding to the openings 2d, 11c is formed on the surface on the outer side of the door.

[0038] The interference portion 33 is a portion that can interfere with the latch release handle 20. The interference portion 33 is provided at a portion of the panel cover 30 (specifically, the flange portion 32) that can pass through a movement trajectory of the latch release handle 20. The interference portion 33 protrudes from the flange portion 32 of the panel cover 30 toward the inside of the door, and extends along the flange portion 32 in the front-rear direction.

[0039] When the panel cover 30 is located in the overlapping range near the closed position including the closed position, the interference portion 33 interferes with the latch release handle 20 and restricts the position of the latch release handle 20 before the latch release handle 20 reaches the latch release position as the latch release handle 20 moves from the latch position toward the latch release position. The protruding length of the interference portion 33 from the flange portion 32 is set to a size that enables the above-mentioned function of the interference portion 33 to be realized. The length of the interference portion 33 in the front-rear direction corresponds to the length of the latch release handle 20 in the front-rear direction. The interference portions 33 may extend without gaps in the front-rear direction, or may be scattered with gaps in the front-rear direction.

[0040] The panel cover 30 is composed of a plurality of parts. That is, the panel cover 30 is composed of a first part 35 provided with a blocking portion 31, and a second part 36 provided with a flange portion 32 and an interference portion 33. The panel cover 30 is formed by assembling the first part 35 and the second part 36 to each other.

[0041] The first component 35 is formed in a plate shape corresponding to the blocking portion 31. The second component 36 is formed in a plate shape corresponding to the flange portion 32. The second component 36 is provided with a through hole 36a corresponding to the blocking portion 31. The first component 35 is connected to the periphery of the through hole 36a in the second component 36. In this way, the panel cover 30 is formed.

[0042] The surface of the blocking portion 31 on the door outer side is exposed to the outside of the door when the panel cover 30 is in the closed position. Therefore, the first part 35 may be a part formed of the same material as the outer panel 2a, or a part that has been subjected to a surface treatment such as gloss or matte, in order to ensure the appearance design and visibility of the surface on the door outer side.

[0043] The driving device 40 is a device that moves the panel cover 30 between a closed position and an open position. The driving device 40 has a rotary drive shaft 41 (see FIG. 7), an arm 42, and an electric actuator 48.

[0044] The rotary drive shaft 41 is a shaft body that is driven to rotate. The rotary drive shaft 41 is formed in a columnar or cylindrical shape. The rotary drive shaft 41 is driven to rotate by external power. Specifically, the rotary drive shaft 41 is driven to rotate by a driving force generated by an electric actuator 48.

[0045] The arm 42 is an arm portion having one end connected to the rotary drive shaft 41 and the other end connected to the panel cover 30. The arm 42 connects the rotary drive shaft 41 and the panel cover 30, and transmits the rotational motion of the rotary drive shaft 41 to the panel cover 30. The arm 42 is rotatable around the one end side.

[0046] The arm 42 has a pair of arm pieces 42a arranged at the front and rear, and a connecting bar 42b connecting the pair of arm pieces 42a. One end of each arm piece 42a to which the rotary drive shaft 41 is connected has a columnar or cylindrical shaft 43. The shafts 43 of the pair of arm pieces 42a are arranged coaxially with each other.

[0047] A semicircular support hole 11e is provided in each of the two front and rear side walls 11b of the lower member 11. A semicircular support hole 12e is provided in each of the two front and rear side walls 12b of the upper member 12. The support hole 11e of the lower member 11 and the support hole 12e of the upper member 12 form a single circular support hole that supports the shaft portion 43 of the arm piece 42a when the upper member 12 is attached and fixed to the lower member 11. The shaft portions 43 of the front and rear arm pieces 42a are rotatably supported by the base member 10 while being fitted into the support holes 11e of the lower member 11 and the support holes 12e of the upper member 12, respectively.

[0048] The rotary drive shaft 41 is directly connected to one end of one of the two front and rear arm pieces 42a. When the arm piece 42a rotates due to the rotary drive of the rotary drive shaft 41, the other arm piece 42a connected to the arm piece 42a via a connecting bar 42b also rotates. In other words, the pair of arm pieces 42a rotate integrally with each other. The connecting bar 42b extends in the front-rear direction.

[0049] The arm 42 (specifically, each arm piece 42a) is bent or curved from one end to the other end. Specifically, each arm piece 42a is formed in an L-shape and has a first line portion 44 that extends radially outward in a straight line from the shaft portion 43 side, and a second line portion 45 that extends linearly from the radial outer end of the first line portion 44 to the other end of the arm 42. The angle formed by the extending direction of the first line portion 44 and the extending direction of the second line portion 45 is greater than 0° and less than 180°, and is set to, for example, 90°.

[0050] When the panel cover 30 is in the closed position, the first line portion 44 of the arm 42 extends obliquely downward (specifically, inward and downward of the door) from the shaft portion 43. At this time, the second line portion 45 of the arm 42 extends obliquely downward (specifically, outward and downward of the door) from the radial outer end of the first line portion 44. Also, when the panel cover 30 is in the open position, the first line portion 44 of the arm 42 extends in a direction that forms an angle of 90° with respect to a vertical line passing through the axis of the shaft portion 43 from the shaft portion 43 (i.e., in the horizontal direction inward of the door). At this time, the second line portion 45 of the arm 42 extends vertically downward from the radial outer end of the first line portion 44.

[0051] The other end of each arm piece 42a to which the panel cover 30 is connected has a columnar or cylindrical shaft 46. The shafts 46 of the pair of arm pieces 42a are coaxially arranged with each other.

[0052] As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the panel cover 30 has a support portion 38 that supports the shaft portion 46 of the arm 42. The support portion 38 is a support hole formed to a size corresponding to the outer shape of the shaft portion 46 of the arm 42. The support portion 38 is formed in an elongated hole shape so as to restrict the movement of the shaft portion 46 in the door inward and outward directions and to allow the shaft portion 46 to move in the vertical direction. The vertical length of the support portion 38 corresponds to the change in height position of the other end of the arm 42 that rotates in the process of the panel cover 30 moving between the closed position and the open position. The support portion 38 is formed by assembling the first part 35 and the second part 36 of the panel cover 30 to each other.

[0053] The shaft portion 46 of the arm piece 42a can move vertically relative to the panel cover 30, and can rotate about the shaft portion 46 relative to the panel cover 30. The arm 42 rotates about the shaft portion 43 in conjunction with the rotation of the rotary drive shaft 41, and during this rotation, the shaft portion 46 moves vertically within the support portion 38 of the panel cover 30 while rotating, thereby moving the entire panel cover 30 linearly in the door inward / outward direction. In other words, the arm 42 (specifically, the shaft portion 46) and the panel cover 30 (specifically, the support portion 38) have the function of converting the rotational motion of the rotary drive shaft 41 into linear motion of the panel cover 30.

[0054] The arm 42 is formed so that, when the panel cover 30 is in the closed position, the center of gravity of the arm 42 is located on the inside of the door relative to the position of the axis of the rotary drive shaft 41 in the door inward / outward direction. In this structure, when the panel cover 30 is in the closed position, the arm 42 applies a force to the panel cover 30 that presses the panel cover 30 outward from the door.

[0055] The electric actuator 48 is an actuator that rotates the rotary drive shaft 41. The electric actuator 48 is a motor that operates by supplying electric power. The electric actuator 48 can rotate in both the forward and reverse directions. The electric actuator 48 opens and closes the panel cover 30 via the rotary drive shaft 41 and the arm 42. The electric actuator 48 is housed in the gap space 2b and is disposed adjacent to the base member 10. The electric actuator 48 is attached to the base member 10. The output shaft of the electric actuator 48 is connected to the rotary drive shaft 41 directly or via a reducer.

[0056] The rotational drive of the electric actuator 48 is controlled by a control unit mainly composed of a microcomputer. When an operation is performed to request the opening of the vehicle door 2, the control unit operates the electric actuator 48 to move the panel cover 30 from the closed position to the open position. The request operation is, for example, a pressing operation of the panel cover 30 against the outer panel 2a, a pressing of a switch provided on the outer surface of the panel cover 30, completion of a match by wireless communication with a portable device carried by the operator, a pressing of an unlock switch or an unlock switch provided on the portable device, or a combination of these operations.

[0057] The operation of the vehicle door handle device 1 will now be described. First, a normal operation of the vehicle door handle device 1 will be described. When the vehicle door 2 is closed relative to the vehicle body, the latch release handle 20 is in the latched position and the panel cover 30 is in the closed position (FIGS. 10(A) and 11(A)). At this time, the surface of the panel cover 30 on the door outer side is flush with the surface of the outer panel 2a. This ensures the aesthetic design of the vehicle door 2.

[0058] When an operation is performed to request the vehicle door 2 to be opened, the electric actuator 48 is operated so as to move the panel cover 30 from the closed position to the open position. When the electric actuator 48 is operated, the rotary drive shaft 41 is rotated, and the arm 42 rotates in the clockwise direction shown in FIG. 10 around the shaft portion 43. In this case, the panel cover 30 moves linearly inward from the closed position to the open position (FIGS. 10(B) and 11(B)). Then, when the panel cover 30 reaches the open position (FIGS. 10(C) and 11(C)), the operation of the electric actuator 48 is stopped.

[0059] When the panel cover 30 is in the open position, an operator can insert his / her hand into the accommodation space 13 from the door outer side of the vehicle door 2 through the openings 2d, 11c, and can perform an unlatching operation of the latch release handle 20 in the accommodation space 13 to the unlatched position against the biasing force of the biasing member. When the latch release handle 20 is unlatched from the latched position and reaches the unlatched position, the door latch device releases the latch of the vehicle door 2 from the vehicle body, and in the unlatched state, the operator can further pull the vehicle door 2 together with the latch release handle 20 toward the door outer side, thereby opening the vehicle door 2.

[0060] When the operator releases the latch release handle 20, the latch release handle 20 moves toward the latched position due to the biasing force of the biasing member. When the latch release handle 20 reaches the latched position, the door latch device is able to latch the vehicle door 2 to the vehicle body. When the vehicle door 2 is closed from the open side in this latchable state, the vehicle door 2 is latched in the closed state.

[0061] Furthermore, when a predetermined condition is met after the operator's hand is pulled out of the storage space 13, the electric actuator 48 is operated to move the panel cover 30 from the open position to the closed position. When the electric actuator 48 is operated, the rotary drive shaft 41 is rotated, and the arm 42 rotates counterclockwise around the shaft portion 43 as shown in FIG. 10. In this case, the panel cover 30 moves linearly from the open position to the closed position outward from the door (FIGS. 10(B) and 11(B)). Then, when the panel cover 30 reaches the closed position (FIGS. 10(A) and 11(A)), the operation of the electric actuator 48 is stopped.

[0062] In this way, in the vehicle door handle device 1, the panel cover 30 moves inwardly toward the door from a closed position that closes the opening 2d in the outer panel 2a toward an open position that opens the opening 2d, and then the latch release handle 20 is pulled outwardly toward the door from the latched position to the unlatch position to perform the unlatch operation, thereby unlatching the vehicle door 2.

[0063] In this configuration, when the latch release handle 20 is operated to release the latch of the vehicle door 2, components such as the panel cover 30 do not protrude outward from the outer panel 2a of the vehicle door 2. This makes it possible to prevent the exterior design of the vehicle door 2 from being impaired when the latch release handle 20 is operated to release the latch of the vehicle door 2.

[0064] In addition, in the above configuration, the movement of the panel cover 30 between the closed position and the open position is limited to within the accommodation space 13, so even if a failure occurs in the drive unit 40, parts such as the panel cover 30 will not remain protruding outward from the outer panel 2a of the vehicle door 2 while the vehicle is traveling. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the external design of the vehicle door 2 from being impaired when the drive unit 40 or the like fails, and also to prevent a decrease in the aerodynamic characteristics while the vehicle is traveling.

[0065] In the vehicle door handle device 1, the arm 42 of the drive device 40 is disposed in the accommodation space 13 and is bent or curved from one end to the other end. The arm 42 is formed in an L-shape, and when the panel cover 30 is in the closed position, the first line portion 44 extends obliquely downward (specifically, inward and downward of the door) from the shaft portion 43 and the second line portion 45 extends obliquely downward (specifically, outward and downward of the door) from the radial outer end of the first line portion 44, and when the panel cover 30 is in the open position, the first line portion 44 extends horizontally inward of the door from the shaft portion 43 and the second line portion 45 extends vertically downward from the radial outer end of the first line portion 44.

[0066] In this configuration, the range of inward and outward movement of the arm 42 when the panel cover 30 moves between the closed position and the open position is kept small, while the straight-line distance from one end of the arm 42 (specifically, the shaft portion 43 to which the rotating drive shaft 41 is connected) to the other end (specifically, the shaft portion 46 to which the panel cover 30 is connected) is ensured to be large.

[0067] Therefore, compared to a configuration in which the range of movement of the arm 42 in the inward and outward directions is relatively large, there is no need to increase the space in the accommodation space 13 in which the arm 42 can move in the inward and outward directions, which makes it possible to reduce the size of the base member 10 and, in turn, the vehicle door handle device 1. Also, compared to a configuration in which the linear distance from one end to the other end of the arm 42 is relatively small, it is possible to ensure the torque for moving the panel cover 30 in the inward and outward directions while keeping the range of rotation angle of the arm 42 small when the panel cover 30 moves between the closed position and the open position, which makes it possible to reduce the amount of power consumed by the electric actuator 48 when moving the panel cover 30 between the closed position and the open position.

[0068] Incidentally, the unlatch handle 20 is biased toward the latched position by a biasing member, and is maintained at the latched position unless an unlatch operation is input. In addition, in the latched position, the unlatch handle 20 extends obliquely downward from the pivot shaft 22. For this reason, in this structure, if an impact load is input toward the inside of the door due to a vehicle side collision or the like, the unlatch handle 20 of the vehicle door 2 may rotate toward the unlatch position due to inertia, and the vehicle door 2 may unintentionally reach the unlatch position and be unlatched.

[0069] In contrast, in the vehicle door handle device 1, the movement path of the unlatch handle 20 between the latched position and the unlatch position and the movement path of the panel cover 30 between the closed position and the open position have a mutually overlapping range. Specifically, the area near the unlatch position of the unlatch handle 20 and the area near the closed position of the panel cover 30 overlap with each other. For this reason, the unlatch handle 20 and the panel cover 30 may interfere with each other.

[0070] Furthermore, the direction in which the unlatch handle 20 moves from the latched position to the unlatch position is opposite to the direction in which the panel cover 30 moves from the closed position to the open position. Specifically, in the process in which the unlatch handle 20 moves from the latched position to the unlatch position, just before the unlatch position, the radial tip of the unlatch handle 20 moves outward from the door, whereas when the panel cover 30 moves from the closed position to the open position, the panel cover 30 moves inward from the door.

[0071] In the above configuration, when an impact load is input toward the inside of the vehicle door 2 while the panel cover 30 is positioned in the overlapping range near the closed position including the closed position, the latch release handle 20 moves toward the latch release position due to inertia force, and the panel cover 30 moves to the closed position due to inertia force or is pressed against the bottom wall 11a of the base member 10 while positioned in the closed position.

[0072] When the panel cover 30 is in the open position (more specifically, when the panel cover 30 is outside the overlapping range in the movement trajectory), the unlatch handle 20 does not interfere with the panel cover 30 when it moves between the latched position and the unlatch position. On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 12, when the panel cover 30 is in the overlapping range near the closed position, the unlatch handle 20 interferes with the interference portion 33 of the panel cover 30 before it reaches the unlatch position from the latched position. Therefore, when the panel cover 30 is in the close position, the unlatch handle 20 does not reach the unlatch position even if it moves.

[0073] Therefore, even if the latch release handle 20 moves toward the unlatched position due to the inertial force caused by the input of an impact load inwardly of the vehicle door 2, or even if the latch release handle 20 moves toward the unlatched position due to the reaction force after the input of an impact load outwardly of the vehicle door 2, when the panel cover 30 is in the closed position, the latch of the vehicle door 2 can be prevented from being released. This makes it possible to prevent the vehicle door 2 from being opened unintentionally.

[0074] Furthermore, since it is sufficient to cause the latch release handle 20 and the panel cover 30 to interfere with each other in order to prevent the vehicle door 2 from being opened unintentionally, there is no need to provide a separate dedicated part such as an inertia stopper. Therefore, the vehicle door 2 can be prevented from being opened unintentionally with a simple structure.

[0075] The panel cover 30 also has an interference portion 33 that can interfere with the latch release handle 20. The interference portion 33 protrudes from the flange portion 32 of the panel cover 30 toward the inside of the door. The protruding length of the interference portion 33 is set to a size that can realize the function of the interference portion 33, specifically, a size that prevents the latch release handle 20 from reaching the latch release position when the panel cover 30 is in the closed position. Therefore, compared to a structure without the interference portion 33, the timing of interference between the latch release handle 20 and the panel cover 30 when the panel cover 30 is in the closed position can be made earlier, and the amount of movement required for the latch release handle 20 to move from the position where it is restricted by interference with the panel cover 30 to the latch release position can be made larger, thereby improving the function of preventing unintended opening of the vehicle door 2.

[0076] The interference portion 33 extends in the front-rear direction along the flange portion 32. The length of the interference portion 33 in the front-rear direction corresponds to the length of the latch release handle 20 in the front-rear direction. Therefore, when the latch release handle 20 interferes with the panel cover 30, the latch release handle 20 and the panel cover 30 can be brought into line contact or surface contact, so that the impact caused by the interference between the latch release handle 20 and the panel cover 30 can be dispersed.

[0077] Furthermore, if an impact load is input to the outside of the vehicle door 2 due to a side collision of the vehicle with the vehicle door 2 on the opposite left or right side of the vehicle body, as shown in Figure 13, the vehicle door 2 will first rotate from the latched position in a direction away from the unlatched position, but there is a possibility that it will then rotate toward the unlatched position due to a recoil and reach the unlatched position, which may result in the latch of the vehicle door 2 being unintentionally released.

[0078] In the vehicle door handle device 1, the drive device 40 has an electric actuator 48 that rotationally drives the rotary drive shaft 41. In this configuration, the rotation of the rotary drive shaft 41 is restricted by frictional resistance with the electric actuator 48, except when the rotary drive shaft 41 is being rotationally driven by the electric actuator 48. Therefore, even if an inertial force is applied to the latch release handle 20 or the panel cover 30 during either an inward door collision or an outward door collision against the vehicle door 2 described above, the panel cover 30 can be prevented from moving from the closed position to the open position.

[0079] Therefore, in any of the above-mentioned side collisions, the panel cover 30 can be prevented from moving out of the above-mentioned overlapping range in its movement trajectory before interference between the latch release handle 20 and the panel cover 30 occurs, and the above-mentioned interference can be reliably caused to occur before the latch release handle 20 reaches the latch release position from the latch position, thereby improving the function of preventing unintended opening of the vehicle door 2.

[0080] In the vehicle door handle device 1, the arm 42 is bent or curved from one end to the other end, specifically, formed in an L-shape. The arm 42 is formed such that, when the panel cover 30 is in the closed position, the center of gravity of the arm 42 is located on the door inner side relative to the door inner / outer direction position of the axis of the rotation drive shaft 41. In this configuration, when the panel cover 30 is in the closed position, the arm 42 applies a force to the panel cover 30 that presses the panel cover 30 outward from the door, so that the panel cover 30 (specifically, the flange portion 32) is kept in contact with the bottom wall 11a of the base member 10.

[0081] Therefore, compared to a configuration in which the above-mentioned pressing force does not act on the panel cover 30, it is possible to prevent the panel cover 30 from easily moving from the closed position to the open position due to vibrations while the vehicle is traveling, and improve the function of preventing unintended opening of the vehicle door 2. Also, it is possible to keep the amount of electricity supplied to the electric actuator 48 for maintaining the panel cover 30 in the closed position small, and it is possible to reduce the power consumption of the electric actuator 48 when the panel cover 30 is in the closed position.

[0082] In the above embodiment, the latched position corresponds to the "reference position" recited in the claims, and the unlatched position corresponds to the "predetermined unlatched position" recited in the claims.

[0083] In the above embodiment, the panel cover 30 moves linearly between the closed position and the open position, and the shaft portion 46 of the arm 42 and the support portion 38 of the panel cover 30 have the function of converting the rotational motion of the rotary drive shaft 41 into the linear motion of the panel cover 30. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the panel cover 30 may move in a pivoting manner between the closed position and the open position.

[0084] In the above embodiment, the arm piece 42a of the arm 42 is formed in an L-shape. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the arm piece 42a may be formed in a C-shape, or may be formed in an L-shape while the angle between the first line portion 44 and the second line portion 45 is greater or smaller than 90°.

[0085] Also, in the above embodiment, the arm 42 of the drive unit 40 has two arm pieces 42a, and the panel cover 30 is connected to the arm 42 at two points. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the arm 42 may have one or three or more arm pieces 42a, and the panel cover 30 may be connected to the arm 42 at one or three or more points.

[0086] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and modified forms, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0087] 1: vehicle door handle device, 2: vehicle door, 2a: outer panel, 2d: opening, 10: base member, 20: latch release handle, 30: panel cover, 31: closing portion, 32: flange portion, 33: interference portion, 40: drive device, 41: rotating drive shaft, 42: arm, 48: electric actuator.

Claims

1. a latch release handle that is stored on an inner side of the vehicle door, is operable from an outer side of the vehicle door through an opening provided in the vehicle door, and releases the latch of the vehicle door when operated from a reference position to a predetermined release position; a plate-shaped panel cover that is capable of opening and closing the opening and that moves inwardly of the vehicle door from a closed position that closes the opening to an open position that opens the opening; Equipped with a movement path of the latch release handle between the reference position and the predetermined release position and a movement path of the panel cover between the closed position and the open position have a mutually overlapping range; a moving direction of the latch release handle from the reference position to the predetermined release position and a moving direction of the panel cover from the closed position to the open position are opposite directions, A vehicle door handle device in which, when the panel cover is positioned in the overlapping range near the closed position, the latch release handle is restricted in position by interference with the panel cover before reaching the specified release position from the reference position side.

2. The panel cover has a closing portion capable of closing the opening and an interference portion capable of interfering with the latch release handle, 2. The vehicle door handle device according to claim 1, wherein the interference portion protrudes from an outer edge of the panel cover toward an inside of the vehicle door.

3. a drive device for moving the panel cover between the closed position and the open position; 3. The vehicle door handle device according to claim 1, wherein the drive device comprises a rotary drive shaft that is rotatably driven, and an arm having one end connected to the rotary drive shaft and the other end connected to the panel cover.

4. 4. The vehicle door handle device according to claim 3, wherein the arm is formed so that a center of gravity of the arm is located on the inner side of the vehicle door relative to a position of the axis of the rotation drive shaft in the door inward / outward direction when the panel cover is located in the closed position.

5. 5. The vehicle door handle device according to claim 3, wherein the drive device includes an electric actuator connected to the rotary drive shaft for rotating the rotary drive shaft.

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