Vehicle door lock device

Abstract

To provide a vehicle door lock device capable of preventing a door from being unlatched due to the deformation of the door caused by the collision load input.SOLUTION: A rod 30 for transmitting the operation of an outer handle 12 to an open lever 25 of a latch mechanism 20 includes a first portion 30b that extends in the vehicle width direction toward a base 21 of the latch mechanism 20, and a second portion 30c that extends in the vehicle length direction from the first portion 30a. When an outer panel 4 starts deforming due to the input of collision load, the second portion 30c of the rod 30 comes into contact with the base 21 of the latch mechanism 20, and the upper portion of a handle base 11 is prevented from rotating downward as closing to an inner panel 5.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle door lock device. [Background technology]

[0002] A vehicle door lock device is provided on a vehicle door. The vehicle door lock device comprises a handle mechanism including an outer handle and a latch mechanism. The latch mechanism comprises a fork that engages and disengages with a striker on the vehicle body, and a claw lever. The latch mechanism is switched from a latched state to an unlatched state by an occupant operating the outer handle. In the latched state, the claw lever holds the fork in a position where it is engaged with the striker. In the unlatched state, the claw lever releases the hold of the fork, and the fork disengages from the striker. Unlatching allows the door to be opened.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes that in the event of a collision, the inertia acting on the vehicle can cause the outer handle to move in the same way as when an occupant operates the door, that is, move outward in the vehicle width direction relative to the door. This movement can cause the latch to be released.

[0004] The vehicle door lock device described in Patent Document 1 includes a stopper member that prevents the movement of the rod that transmits the movement of the outer handle to the latch mechanism when inertia acts on the vehicle during a collision. This stopper member is intended to prevent the latch from being released due to the movement of the outer handle caused by inertia during a collision. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2009-243102 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In a collision, particularly a side collision, the door is deformed by the input of a collision load. The vehicle door lock device described in Patent Document 1 has room for improvement in terms of preventing the latch from being released due to such door deformation.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle door lock device that can prevent the latch from being released due to deformation of the door caused by the input of a collision load. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] One aspect of the present invention provides a vehicle door lock device comprising: a handle mechanism including a handle base arranged inside an outer panel of a vehicle door and an outer handle movably held on the handle base; a latch mechanism including a lever for releasing the latch; a rod having a connection portion connected to an upper portion of the handle base at one end and an engagement portion engageable with the lever at the other end, the rod transmitting the operation of the outer handle to the lever; and an opposing portion facing the handle base in a first direction in which the outer panel and the inner panel of the door face each other, wherein the rod has a first portion extending from the connection portion toward the opposing portion along the first direction, and a second portion extending from the first portion in a second direction that intersects the first direction and is along the opposing portion.

[0009] During a collision, particularly a side collision, the outer panel of the door is deformed by the input of a collision load. Depending on the door design, which is long in the vehicle length direction, or the vehicle weight, the input of the collision load may cause the outer panel to deform so that the upper part of the handle base approaches the inner panel and rotates downward. When the input of the collision load begins to deform the outer panel, the second part of the rod quickly abuts against the opposing part, and the first part of the rod bears the input of the collision load. In other words, the first part of the rod is sandwiched between the handle base and the opposing part, restricting the relative movement of the handle base with respect to the opposing part. This restriction of movement prevents the upper part of the handle base from rotating downward while approaching the inner panel, which would otherwise cause the lever to move. As a result, the latch release caused by the deformation of the outer panel due to the input of the collision load can be prevented.

[0010] A gap is provided between the second portion and the opposing portion of the rod.

[0011] This configuration ensures that the rod operates as required under normal circumstances. The first direction may be a width direction of the vehicle, and the second direction may be a length direction of the vehicle.

[0012] The first portion of the rod may extend along a direction perpendicular to the opposing portion.

[0013] This configuration allows the first portion of the rod to reliably support the collision load when the outer panel begins to deform due to the collision load, thereby more reliably preventing the upper part of the handle base from rotating downward while approaching the inner panel.

[0014] The second portion of the rod may extend along a direction parallel to the opposing portion.

[0015] With this configuration, when the outer panel begins to deform due to the collision load input, the opposing portion can reliably receive the collision load input acting through the first portion of the rod, thereby more reliably preventing the upper portion of the handle base from rotating downward while approaching the inner panel.

[0016] The second portion of the rod may extend toward the rear in the vehicle length direction, and the rod may have a third portion extending from the rear end of the second portion in the vehicle length direction toward the lower side in the vehicle height direction, and the lower end of the third portion of the rod may be connected to the engagement portion.

[0017] According to this configuration, the majority of the rod is located on the rear side of the door in the vehicle length direction, so that the vehicle door lock device can be easily assembled.

[0018] The latch mechanism may include the opposing portion.

[0019] According to this configuration, the latch mechanism also serves as the opposing portion, thereby making it possible to suppress an increase in the number of parts.

[0020] The latch mechanism may include a base portion arranged inside the inner panel and a protruding portion protruding from a rear portion of the base portion in the vehicle length direction toward the outer panel in the vehicle width direction, the base portion having the opposing portion, and the second portion of the rod may be located closer to the base portion than the tip of the protruding portion.

[0021] According to this configuration, when the outer panel starts to deform due to the input of a collision load, the second portion of the rod reliably abuts against the opposing portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0022] According to the vehicle door lock device of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the latch from being released due to deformation of the door caused by the input of a collision load. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] 1 is a view of a side door of a vehicle equipped with a vehicle door lock device according to an embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the outside in the vehicle width direction. [Figure 2] 1 is an exploded perspective view of a side door of a vehicle equipped with a vehicle door lock device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 3 . [Figure 5] A view of the steering mechanism and rod from the inside of the vehicle width direction. [Figure 6] FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle door lock device. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle door lock device. [Figure 10] 2 is a view of the vehicle door lock device as seen from above in the vehicle height direction. FIG. [Figure 11] 1 is a view of a vehicle door lock device as seen from the front side in the vehicle length direction; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the X direction, Y direction, and X direction indicate the vehicle length direction, vehicle width direction, and vehicle height direction, respectively.

[0025] 1 and 2, a vehicle door lock device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, together with a vehicle door 2, constitutes a door structure 3. In this embodiment, the door 2 is a rear side door. The present invention can also be applied to vehicle doors other than rear side doors.

[0026] The door 2 includes an outer panel 4, an inner panel 5, and an end panel 6. The outer panel 4 and the inner panel 5 face each other in the vehicle width direction (first direction). The outer panel 4, the inner panel 5, and the end panel 6 of the door 2 define a closed space 7 (see also Figures 3 and 4). In the following description, the terms "inside" and "outside" may be used to refer to the surfaces of the outer panel 4, the inner panel 5, and the end panel 6 that face the closed space 7, and "outside" to refer to the surfaces opposite the closed space 7.

[0027] 2 to 4, the vehicle door lock device 1 includes a handle mechanism 10, a latch mechanism 20, and a rod 30, and is disposed on the rear side of the door 2 in the vehicle length direction.

[0028] (handle mechanism) 1 to 3, the handle mechanism 10 includes a handle base 11 disposed inside the outer panel 4 (inside the closed space 7) and an outer handle 12 disposed outside the outer panel 4. Both the handle base 11 and the outer handle 12 are disposed along the vehicle length direction.

[0029] 5, the outer handle 12 is movably held by the handle base 11. That is, a first end 12a of the outer handle 12 protruding from the front side in the vehicle length direction (second direction) penetrates the outer panel 4 and is rotatably supported by the handle base 11, and a second end 12b of the outer handle 12 protruding from the rear side in the vehicle length direction also penetrates the outer panel 4 and is supported by the handle base 11 so as to be movable forward and backward in the vehicle width direction. Normally, when the occupant rotates the outer handle 12 outward in the vehicle width direction (door opening operation), the latch mechanism 20 switches from a latched state to an unlatched state, and the door 2 can be opened.

[0030] 5 and 8, the handle base 11 is provided with a support shaft 16 on the rear side in the vehicle length direction and on the upper side in the vehicle length direction. A lever arm 14 equipped with a counterweight 13 is rotatably supported on this support shaft 16. A held portion (connection portion) 30a of a rod 30 is inserted into a rod holding portion 14a at the upper end of the lever arm 14 and is held in a rotatable state.

[0031] The lever arm 14 rotates in the direction indicated by arrow A1 in FIG. 8 in response to movement of the second end 12b of the outer handle 12 during the door-opening operation. This rotation causes the rod holding portion 14a to move downward in the vehicle height direction, which in turn causes the rod 30 to descend downward in the vehicle height direction. When the rod 30 descends, a crank-shaped portion 30g (described below) provided on the rod 30 pushes down an open lever 25 (described below) provided on the latch mechanism 20, causing it to rotate downward. As a result, the latch mechanism 20 switches from a latched state to an unlatched state. A coil spring 15 that elastically biases the lever arm 14 is attached to the support shaft 16. As shown in FIG. 8, the counterweight 13 and the coil spring 15 bias the lever arm 14 so as to rotate in the direction indicated by arrow A2 (opposite to the arrow A1 described above), i.e., in the direction opposite to the direction in which the latch mechanism 20 switches from the latched state to the unlatched state.

[0032] (latch mechanism) 3, 4, and 8 to 11, the latch mechanism 20 is disposed inside the inner panel 5 (inside the closed space 7). The latch mechanism 20 includes a base portion 21 and a protruding portion 22. The base portion 21 is disposed so as to extend in the vehicle length direction along the inside of the inner panel 5. The protruding portion 22 protrudes in the vehicle width direction from a rear portion of the base portion 21 in the vehicle length direction toward the outer panel 4. The protruding portion 21 is disposed along the inside of the end panel 6. The base portion 21 and the protruding portion 22 are formed by a casing 23 having a split structure.

[0033] The protruding portion 22 accommodates a fork 24 (shown only in FIG. 8) that engages with and disengages from a striker (not shown) on the vehicle body, and a claw lever (not shown).

[0034] The base portion 21 is provided with an open lever 25 for releasing the latch. The base portion 21 also houses a mechanism (not shown) including elements such as a link and a motor for switching the latch mechanism 20 between an unlocked state and a locked state. Normally, when the latch mechanism 20 is in the unlocked state, pressing down the open lever 25 by operating the outer handle 12 switches the latch mechanism 20 from the latched state (a state in which the claw lever holds the fork 24 in a position where it engages with the striker) to the unlatched state (a state in which the claw lever releases the hold of the fork 24 and the fork 24 disengages from the striker). On the other hand, when the latch mechanism 20 is in the locked state, pressing down the open lever 25 by operating the outer handle 12 does not switch the latch mechanism from the latched state to the unlatched state.

[0035] (rod) The rod 30 in this embodiment is a steel round bar having a diameter of 4.0 to 6.0 mm that is bent into a shape that will be described later.

[0036] 8, the rod 30 transmits the operation of the outer handle 12 of the handle mechanism 10 to the open lever 25 of the latch mechanism 20. Specifically, under normal circumstances, when the outer handle 12 is operated to open the door, the rod 30 moves downward in the vehicle width direction as the lever arm 14 of the handle mechanism 10 rotates in the direction of arrow A1, and the crank-shaped portion 30g presses down the open lever 25.

[0037] 5 and 8, as already explained in relation to the handle mechanism 10 and the latch mechanism 20, the lever arm 14 is rotatably supported on the upper side of the handle base 11 in the vehicle height direction, and the held portion (connection portion) 30a of the rod 30 is held by the rod holding portion 14a provided at the upper end of the lever arm 14. That is, in this embodiment, one end of the rod 30 is connected to the upper part of the handle base 11 in the vehicle height direction via the lever arm 14.

[0038] The rod 30 will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS.

[0039] The rod 30 includes a held portion (connection portion) 30a, a first portion 30b, a second portion 30d, a crank-shaped portion (engagement portion) 30g, and an insertion portion 30k. The held portion 30a is located at one end of the rod 30, and the crank-shaped portion 30g and the insertion portion 30k are located at the other end.

[0040] 8 to 11, the held portion 30a extends linearly in the vehicle length direction and is inserted into the rod holding portion 14a of the lever arm 14 from the front side in the vehicle length direction. The held portion 30a is rotatably held by the rod holding portion 14a.

[0041] The first portion 30b is connected to the front end of the held portion 30a in the vehicle length direction. The first portion 30b extends linearly in the vehicle width direction from the held portion 30a toward the base portion 21 of the latch mechanism 20. In particular, the first portion 30b extends in a direction perpendicular to the inner surface 21a of the base portion 21 in the vehicle width direction. This inner surface 21a faces the handle base 11 in the vehicle width direction and is an example of a facing portion of the present invention.

[0042] The second portion 30c is connected to the inner end of the first portion 30b in the vehicle width direction. The second portion 30c extends rearward in the vehicle length direction from the first portion 30b. In other words, the second portion 30c extends from the first portion 30b in a direction perpendicular to the vehicle width direction and parallel to the inner surface 21a.

[0043] A gap G is provided between the second portion 30c of the rod 30 and the latch mechanism 20, more specifically, the inner surface 21a of the base portion 21. This gap G ensures the operation required of the rod 30 under normal circumstances. The gap G is set to 5 to 15 mm, for example, 10 mm.

[0044] As shown most clearly in Figure 10, the second portion 30c of the rod 30 is located closer to the base portion 21 of the latch mechanism 20 than the tip of the protrusion 22 of the latch mechanism 20, more specifically, closer to the inner surface 21a, which is an example of the opposing portion of the present invention as described above.

[0045] The third portion 30d is connected to the rear end of the second portion 30c in the vehicle length direction. The third portion 30d as a whole extends downward in the vehicle height direction from the second portion 30c. The lower end of the third portion 30d is connected to the crank-shaped portion 30g. The lower end of the crank-shaped portion 30g is also connected to the insertion portion 30k.

[0046] The third portion 30d includes an oblique portion 30e and a hanging portion 30f.

[0047] One end of the oblique portion 30e is connected to the second connection portion 30c, and the other end is connected to the hanging portion 30f. In a plan view, the oblique portion 30e extends linearly from the rear end of the second portion 30c in the vehicle length direction toward the inner panel 5, and is inclined so that the closer it is to the inner panel 5, the more rearward it becomes in the vehicle length direction. In addition, in a plan view, the oblique portion 30e extends linearly and is slightly inclined so that the closer it is to the inner panel 5, the lower it becomes in the vehicle height direction.

[0048] One end of hanging portion 30f is connected to inclined portion 30e, and the other end is connected to crank-shaped portion 30g. Hanging portion 30f extends linearly downward in the vehicle height direction from inclined portion 30e.

[0049] The crank-shaped portion 30g includes an upper portion 30h, a central portion 30i, and a lower portion 30j.

[0050] The upper portion 30h extends linearly from the hanging portion 30f of the third portion 30d, tilting slightly toward the outer panel 4 in a plan view and also tilting slightly in the vehicle height direction.

[0051] The central portion 30i extends linearly downward in the vehicle length direction from the upper portion 30h.

[0052] The lower portion 30j extends linearly from the central portion 30i, inclining slightly toward the outer panel 4 in a plan view, and also inclining slightly in the vehicle height direction.

[0053] For example, as can be seen by referring to FIG. 8, when the rod 30 descends downward in the vehicle length direction, the crank-shaped portion 30g, more specifically the lower portion 30j, pushes down and rotates the open lever 25 of the latch mechanism 20.

[0054] The insertion portion 30k extends linearly downward in the vehicle length direction from the lower portion 30j of the crank-shaped portion 30g. The insertion portion 30k is inserted into the open lever 25 so that the rod 30 can move up and down relative to the open lever 25.

[0055] (Behavior of vehicle door locking devices during collisions) If the rod 30 does not have the above-described shape, the vehicle door lock device 1 will behave as follows in the event of a collision, particularly a side collision.

[0056] The input of a collision load deforms the outer panel 4 of the door 2. Depending on the design of the door 2, such as the length of the door 2 in the vehicle longitudinal direction, or the vehicle weight, the input of the collision load may deform the outer panel 4 so that the upper part of the handle base 11 rotates downward while approaching the inner panel 5, as conceptually shown by arrow B in FIG. 3. When the upper part of the handle base 11 rotates as indicated by arrow B in FIG. 3, the rod 30 moves downward and the open lever 25 is pushed down. As a result, the latch mechanism 20 may switch from a latched state to an unlatched state, potentially opening the door 2.

[0057] In contrast, in the vehicle door lock device 1 of this embodiment, when the outer panel 4 begins to deform due to the collision load input, the second portion 30c of the rod 30 quickly abuts against the base portion 21 of the latch mechanism 20, more specifically, the inner surface 21a of the base portion 21, and the first portion 30b of the rod 30 bears the collision load. In other words, the first portion 30b of the rod 30 is sandwiched between the handle base 11 and the base portion 21 of the latch mechanism 20, restricting relative movement of the handle base 11 with respect to the base portion 21 of the latch mechanism 20. This restriction of movement causes the upper portion of the handle base 11 to rotate downward while approaching the inner panel 5, thereby preventing the rod 30 from moving downward in the vehicle length direction. Furthermore, the prevention of the rod 30 from descending prevents the rod 30 from pressing down the open lever 25. As a result, the latch mechanism 20 can be prevented from being unlatched due to deformation of the outer panel 4 due to the collision load input.

[0058] As described above, the first portion 30b of the rod 30 extends in a direction perpendicular to the inner surface 21a of the base portion 21 of the latch mechanism 20. Therefore, when the outer panel 4 starts to deform due to the collision load input, the first portion 30b of the rod 30 can reliably support the collision load input. As a result, the upper portion of the handle base 11 can be more reliably prevented from rotating downward while approaching the inner panel 5.

[0059] As described above, the second portion 30c of the rod 30 extends parallel to the inner surface 21a of the base portion 21 of the latch mechanism 20. Therefore, when the outer panel 4 starts to deform due to the collision load input, the collision load input acting via the first portion 30b of the rod 30 can be reliably received by the inner surface 21a of the base portion 21. As a result, the upper portion of the handle base 11 can be more reliably prevented from rotating downward while approaching the inner panel 5.

[0060] As described above, the second portion 30c of the rod 30 is located closer to the base portion 21 of the latch mechanism 20 than the tip of the protrusion 22 of the latch mechanism 20. Therefore, when the outer panel 4 starts to deform due to the input of a collision load, the second portion 30a of the rod 30 reliably abuts against the inner surface 21a of the base portion 21 of the latch mechanism 20.

[0061] The base portion 21 of the latch mechanism 20 comes into contact with the rod 30 when the outer panel 4 begins to deform due to the input of a collision load, and serves to support the collision load, i.e., serves as the opposing portion of the present invention. Therefore, an increase in the number of parts can be suppressed compared to when a separate part is provided to function as the opposing portion. However, a part other than the base portion 21 of the latch mechanism 20 may be used as the opposing portion, or a separate part may be provided to function as the opposing portion.

[0062] The rod 30 includes a third portion 30d that is connected to the rear end of the second portion 30c in the vehicle length direction and extends downward in the vehicle height direction as a whole, and a crank-shaped portion 30g and an insertion portion 30k are provided at the lower end of the third portion 30d. Therefore, most of the rod 30 is disposed on the rear side of the door 2 in the vehicle length direction. By disposing the rod 30 in this rearward position, it is possible to prevent the rod 30 from interfering with the latch mechanism 20 when the latch mechanism 20 is brought into the closed space 7 through the service hole 5a (see FIG. 2) of the inner panel 5 during assembly of the vehicle door lock device 1. Therefore, the ease of assembly of the vehicle door lock device 1 can be ensured. [Explanation of symbols]

[0063] 1. Vehicle door lock device 2-door 3-door structure 4 Outer panel 5 Inner panel 5a Service Hall 6 End Panel 7 Closed space 10 Handle mechanism 11 Handle base 12 Outer handle 12a First end 12b Second end 13 Counterweight 14 Lever arm 14a Rod holding part 15 coil spring 16 Support shaft 20 Latch mechanism 21 Base 21a Inside surface 22 Protrusion 23 Casing 24 Fork 25 Open lever (lever) 30 rods 30a Holded part (connection part) 30b Part 1 30c 2nd part 30d 3rd part 30e Diagonal section 30f hanging part 30g Crank-shaped part (engagement part) 30k socket A1 Lever arm rotation direction A2 The opposite direction to the rotation of the lever arm B Movement of the upper part of the steering wheel base during a collision G Gap

Claims

1. a handle mechanism including a handle base disposed inside an outer panel of a vehicle door and an outer handle movably held by the handle base; a latch mechanism having a lever for releasing the latch; a rod having a connection portion connected to an upper portion of the handle base at one end and an engagement portion engageable with the lever at the other end, the rod transmitting the movement of the outer handle to the lever; a facing portion facing a first direction, which is a direction in which the outer panel and the inner panel of the door face each other with respect to the handle base; Equipped with The rod is a first portion extending from the connecting portion toward the opposing portion along the first direction; a second portion extending from the first portion in a second direction intersecting the first direction and along the opposing portion; A vehicle door lock device comprising:

2. The vehicle door lock device according to claim 1 , wherein a gap is provided between the second portion of the rod and the opposing portion.

3. 3. The vehicle door lock device according to claim 1, wherein the first direction is a width direction of the vehicle, and the second direction is a length direction of the vehicle.

4. The vehicle door lock device according to claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the rod extends in a direction perpendicular to the opposing portion.

5. The vehicle door lock device according to claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the rod extends in a direction parallel to the opposing portion.

6. the second portion of the rod extends rearward in the vehicle length direction, the rod includes a third portion extending downward in a vehicle height direction from an end portion of the second portion on the rear side in the vehicle length direction, The vehicle door lock device according to claim 3 , wherein a lower end of the third portion of the rod is connected to the engaging portion.

7. The vehicle door lock device according to claim 3 or 6, wherein the latch mechanism includes the opposing portion.

8. The latch mechanism includes: a base portion disposed inside the inner panel; a protruding portion protruding from a rear portion of the base portion in the vehicle length direction toward the outer panel in the vehicle width direction; Equipped with the base portion includes the opposing portion, The vehicle door lock device according to claim 7, wherein the second portion of the rod is located closer to the base portion than the tip of the protrusion.

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