Door lock device for vehicle

Abstract

To provide a vehicle door lock device capable of preventing intrusion of water or the like into a cable for transmitting the movement of a door handle to an open lever.SOLUTION: A vehicle door lock device 10 includes an open lever 49 for switching a latch mechanism 111 from a latch state to an unlatch state, a cable 30 connected to the open lever 49, and a waterproof cover 33 for storing a protruding portion 499 of the open lever 49 and an end portion of the cable 30. The protruding portion 499 has a first extending portion 492 that extends from one end 496 of a main body portion 491 in a direction substantially parallel to a rotation axis C, and a second extending portion 493 that extends from the first extending portion 492 toward the rotation axis C. The protruding portion 499 extends into the waterproof cover 33 through an opening 339 thereof, and the end portion of the cable 30 is held by the second extending portion 493 at a position apart from the opening 339 and the main body portion 491 in a direction parallel to the rotation axis C.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, some vehicle door lock devices have a latch mechanism that can be switched between a latched state, which holds the vehicle door closed, and an unlatched state, which allows the vehicle door to open. Such door lock devices are configured so that when a door handle provided on the vehicle door is operated, the movement of the door handle switches the latch mechanism from the latched state to the unlatched state. For example, the door lock device described in Patent Document 1 (referred to as a "door latch device" in Patent Document 1) includes a lever member that is connected to the door handle by a cable. The door lock device described in Patent Document 1 is configured so that when the outside door handle is operated, the operating force (movement) of the outside door handle is transmitted to the lever member of the door lock device via the cable, causing the lever member to move, and the movement of the lever member switches the latch mechanism from the latched state to the unlatched state.

[0003] The cable connecting the door lock device and the outside door handle includes an inner cable that transmits the movement of the outside door handle to the lever member and a tubular outer cable that covers the inner cable. With this configuration, water (e.g., rainwater) that has entered the vehicle door may seep into the gap between the inner cable and the outer cable (i.e., the inside of the outer cable). This may result in the cable rusting, freezing, or other damage occurring in the gap. In particular, in a configuration in which the end of the lever member and the end of the cable are covered with a waterproof cover, the waterproof cover has an opening that connects the inside and outside of the waterproof cover to accommodate the lever member protruding from the door lock device housing. Therefore, water or other damage that has entered the waterproof cover through this opening may seep into the inside of the outer cable.

[0004] In the vehicle door lock device described in Patent Document 1, the end of the lever member and the end of the cable (the point where the cable and lever member are connected) are covered with a waterproof cover, and double-sided tape is placed between the waterproof cover and the housing of the door lock device to prevent water and the like from entering the inside of the waterproof cover (to prevent gaps between the waterproof cover and the housing that allow rainwater and the like to enter). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-166286 Summary of the Invention

[0006] (Problem to be solved by the invention)

[0007] However, a configuration in which double-sided tape is interposed between the waterproof cover and the housing requires a process for attaching the double-sided tape, and further requires a process for applying a primer to the waterproof cover and the housing to ensure adhesion (tightness) between the double-sided tape and the waterproof cover and the housing.

[0008] To prevent water or other substances that have entered the waterproof cover through the opening from reaching the end of the cable, it is preferable to increase the distance between the opening in the waterproof cover and the end of the cable (i.e., the location where the lever member and the cable are connected). However, to increase the distance from the opening in the waterproof cover to the end of the cable, the length of the lever member from the "portion inserted into the opening" to the "portion holding the end of the cable" must be increased. However, increasing this length reduces the rigidity of this portion, making the lever member more susceptible to deformation when pulled by the cable. As a result, it may become impossible to switch the latch mechanism from the latched state to the unlatched state. In other words, it may become impossible to ensure the rigidity required to switch the lever member's latch mechanism from the latched state to the unlatched state.

[0009] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a door lock device for a vehicle that can prevent or suppress a decrease in the rigidity of the lever member and prevent or suppress the intrusion of water or the like into the cable without using double-sided tape.

[0010] (Means for solving the problem) In order to achieve the above object, a door lock device for a vehicle according to the present invention comprises: a latch mechanism configured to be switchable between a latched state that holds the vehicle door in a closed state and an unlatched state that allows the vehicle door to be opened; a lever member that is supported rotatably between a first position and a second position with respect to a housing, and that is configured to switch the latch mechanism from the latched state to the unlatched state by rotating from the first position to the second position, and that has a protrusion that protrudes outside the housing; a cable having one end connected to the protrusion of the lever member, the cable being configured to pull the protrusion of the lever member in conjunction with operation of a door handle provided on the vehicle door, thereby moving the lever member from the first position to the second position; a waterproof cover having a box-like configuration with a space formed therein, the waterproof cover accommodating the protruding portion of the lever member and the end of the cable connected to the lever member; Equipped with The protrusion of the lever member has a main body portion formed in a plate shape that is long in a predetermined direction and rotatably supported by the housing; and one end in the longitudinal direction of the main body portion. a first extension portion formed in a plate shape extending in a direction substantially parallel to a movement locus of the one end of the lever member when the lever member moves from the first position to the second position and to a rotation center line of the main body portion, and extending from the one end of the main body portion in a direction substantially parallel to the rotation center line; a plate-shaped second extending portion extending from the first extending portion toward an end portion opposite to the one end in the longitudinal direction of the main body portion; Contains, the protrusion of the main body of the lever member is provided in the waterproof cover, and enters the inside of the waterproof cover through an opening that communicates the inside and the outside of the waterproof cover; The end of the cable is held by the second extension at a position spaced apart from the opening and the main body in a direction parallel to the rotation center line.

[0011] According to the present invention, the end of the cable is held by the second extension of the lever member at a position away from the main body of the lever member in the direction of the rotation centerline of the main body. The second extension is connected to the main body via the first extension, which is a plate-shaped portion extending in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of the tensile force of the cable. This reduces deformation of the first extension due to the tensile force of the cable, preventing or suppressing deformation of the lever member even when the distance from the main body of the lever member to the position where the cable is held in the second extension is increased. Furthermore, if water (specifically, rainwater, etc.) enters the interior through an opening (an opening for inserting the lever member) provided in the waterproof cover, the longer the distance from this opening to the end of the cable (the distance in the direction of the rotation centerline of the lever member), the more difficult it becomes for the infiltrated water to reach the end of the cable. Therefore, the rigidity of the lever member can be maintained while preventing or suppressing the cable from getting wet by water or the like entering through the opening of the waterproof cover.

[0012] the lever member includes a third extension portion extending from the one end of the main body portion, A configuration can be applied in which the tip of the third extension portion is in contact with the end face of the second extension portion that is closer to the main body portion, or is in close proximity to and facing the end face of the second extension portion that is closer to the main body portion.

[0013] According to this configuration, the third extending portion can prevent or suppress deformation of the second extending portion, thereby enhancing the effect of ensuring rigidity.

[0014] The second extending portion may be inclined so that its height position increases as the distance from the main body portion in the direction of the rotation center line increases.

[0015] With this configuration, the position of the second extending portion where the cable is held can be higher than in a configuration in which the second extending portion extends horizontally, thereby improving the effect of preventing or suppressing water or the like that has entered the waterproof cover from reaching the portion of the second extending portion where the cable is held. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1A] FIG. 1A is a diagram showing the configuration of a vehicle door. [Figure 1B] FIG. 1B is a diagram showing the configuration of a vehicle door. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the door lock device. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the door lock device. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the door lock device. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the door lock device. [Figure 6A] FIG. 6A is a perspective view showing the configuration of the open lever and the cable holder. [Figure 6B] FIG. 6B is a perspective view showing the configuration of the open lever and the cable holder. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the configuration of the waterproof cover. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a method for assembling the waterproof cover. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the door lock device. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of a conventional open lever. [Figure 11A] FIG. 11A is a diagram showing the configuration and operation of the latch mechanism. [Figure 11B] FIG. 11B is a diagram showing the configuration and operation of the latch mechanism. [Figure 11C] FIG. 11C is a diagram showing the configuration and operation of the latch mechanism. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] A vehicle door lock device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below. In the following description, the directions of the door lock device and the components constituting the door lock device are based on the directions of the vehicle (the directions of the vehicle door when the vehicle door to which the door lock device is attached is in a fully closed position (described later)). In each drawing, the front of the vehicle is indicated by an arrow Fr, the rear of the vehicle is indicated by an arrow Rr, the inside in the vehicle width direction (left and right direction) is indicated by an arrow In, the outside in the vehicle width direction is indicated by an arrow Out, the upper direction is indicated by an arrow Up, and the lower direction is indicated by an arrow Dw. In the following description, a direction parallel to the front-to-rear direction in a top view and inclined vertically with the front rising and the rear falling relative to the front-to-rear direction is referred to as a first direction, and a direction parallel to the front-to-rear direction in a top view and perpendicular to the first direction (a direction inclined rearward relative to the up-to-down direction) is referred to as a second direction. In each drawing, the arrow D Fr indicates the first direction forward, and arrow D Rr indicates the first direction backward, and arrow D Up indicates the second direction upward, and arrow D Dw indicates the second direction downward. The inclination angle of the first direction with respect to the front-rear direction is not particularly limited, but is, for example, an angle closer to the front-rear direction (horizontal direction) than to the up-down direction (vertical direction).

[0018] (Vehicle door configuration) 1A and 1B are schematic diagrams showing a configuration example of a vehicle door 20 to which a door lock device 10 is applied. FIG. 1A is a side view of the vehicle door 20, seen from the outside in the vehicle width direction. FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the rear end of the vehicle door 20, taken along line IB-IB in FIG. 1A. The vehicle door 20 has a front end rotatably supported relative to the vehicle body 1, and is movable between a fully closed position, a half-closed position, and an open position by rotating around an axis parallel to the front end and an axis substantially parallel to the up-down direction (in other words, it can be opened and closed). The fully closed position is a position where the vehicle door 20 blocks an opening for getting in and out of the vehicle body 1, and is one end position of the movable range. The open position is a position where the opening is not blocked. The half-closed position is a position where the vehicle door 20 blocks the opening, and is a position slightly moved toward the open position from the fully closed position.

[0019] 1A, vehicle door 20 includes door body 201 constituting the lower half thereof, and door sash 202 provided on the upper half thereof. As shown in FIG. 1B, door body 201 includes outer panel 203, inner panel 204 fixed to the inner side of outer panel 203 in the vehicle width direction, and resin trim 205 fixed to the inner surface of inner panel 204 in the vehicle width direction and constituting the inner surface of door body 201 in the vehicle width direction.

[0020] The outer panel 203 is a member that constitutes the outer surface of the vehicle door 20. An outside door handle 206 is attached to the outer panel 203 so as to be rotatable relative to the vehicle door 20. The outside door handle 206 is an example of a door handle of the present invention. An inside door handle 207 is attached to the trim 205 so as to be rotatable relative to the vehicle door 20. The outside door handle 206 and the inside door handle 207 are each rotatable between an initial position and a door open position, and are constantly elastically biased toward the initial position by a biasing member such as a spring. A vehicle user or the like can manually move the inside door handle 207 and the outside door handle 206 from the initial position to the door open position.

[0021] 1B, the door lock device 10 is disposed inside the outer panel 203 in the vehicle width direction, in an internal space of the vehicle door 20 formed by the outer panel 203 and an inner panel 204 of the vehicle door 20. The door lock device 10 is fixed to the inner panel 204. Furthermore, the door lock device 10 and the outside door handle 206 are connected by a cable 30.

[0022] (Door lock device configuration) 2 to 5 are diagrams showing an example of the configuration of the door lock device 10. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the door lock device 10. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the door lock device 10 without the waterproof cover 33 attached. FIGS. 4 and 5 are perspective views of the door lock device 10 without the waterproof cover 33 attached. As shown in FIG. 2, the door lock device 10 has a mating body 11, an actuator body 12, and a waterproof cover 33. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, a bracket 13 is fixed to the mating body 11. The end of the cable 30 and the waterproof cover 33 are held (fixed) by the bracket 13.

[0023] The interlocking body 11 includes a base member 41, a base plate 42, a sub-plate 43, a latch mechanism 111 (see FIGS. 11A to 11C), an open lever 49, and an open link 60 (see FIGS. 11A to 11C).

[0024] The base member 41 of the mating body 11, together with the housing 121 of the actuator body 12 (described later), constitutes the housing of the door lock device 10, and is the member to which the components constituting the mating body 11 are assembled. The base member 41 is made of a resin material and formed by injection molding or the like. The base member 41 is provided with a striker entrance groove 411 and an open lever support shaft 412. The striker entrance groove 411 of the base member 41 is a groove configured to allow the striker 21 provided on the vehicle body 1 to be inserted and removed in the vehicle width direction from the inside of the vehicle width direction. The open lever support shaft 412 is configured to rotatably support the open lever 49 (described later). Note that in each drawing, the rotation center line C of the open lever 49 is indicated by a dashed line. Specifically, the open lever support shaft 412 has a cylindrical configuration that protrudes forward in the first direction from the base body. In addition, the base member 41 is provided with a latch support shaft insertion hole and a pawl support shaft insertion hole (not shown). The latch support shaft insertion hole is configured to allow the latch support shaft 44 to be inserted therethrough, and the pole support shaft insertion hole is configured to allow the pole support shaft 45 to be inserted therethrough. Note that the latch support shaft insertion hole and the pole support shaft insertion hole are both through holes that pass through the base body of the base member 41 in the first direction.

[0025] The base plate 42 and the sub-plate 43 are members that rotatably support the latch 46 via the latch support shaft 44 and rotatably support the pole 47 via the pole support shaft 45. The base plate 42 and the sub-plate 43 are both made of metal plate and formed by press working. The latch support shaft 44 and the pole support shaft 45 are both round bar-shaped members made of metal material and are arranged with their longitudinal direction (axial direction) approximately parallel to the first direction.

[0026] The base plate 42 includes a main body portion 421, an outer extension portion 425, and a bracket fixing portion 426. The main body portion 421 of the base plate 42 (hereinafter referred to as the "plate main body portion 421") has a flat plate-like configuration extending in the vehicle width direction and the second direction (in other words, extending in a direction perpendicular to the first direction). The plate main body portion 421 is provided with a striker entrance groove 422, a latch support shaft fixing hole 423, and a pole support shaft fixing hole 424. The striker entrance groove 422 is a through-hole extending in the vehicle width direction, and is configured to allow the striker 21 provided on the vehicle body 1 to be inserted and removed in the vehicle width direction from the inner side in the vehicle width direction. The latch support shaft fixing hole 423 and the pole support shaft fixing hole 424 are through-holes that penetrate in the first direction, and are configured to allow the rear end of the latch support shaft 44 and the rear end of the pole support shaft 45 to be inserted therethrough, respectively. The rear end of the latch support shaft 44 inserted into the latch support shaft fixing hole 423 and the rear end of the pole support shaft 45 inserted into the pole support shaft fixing hole 424 are fixed to the base plate 42 by crimping or the like.

[0027] The outer extending portion 425 of the base plate 42 is a plate-like portion that extends forward in the first direction from the outer end portion (the outer edge in the vehicle width direction) of the plate main body portion 421 in the vehicle width direction. The outer extending portion 425 has a flat plate-like configuration that extends in the first direction and the second direction (in other words, extends in a direction perpendicular to the vehicle width direction).

[0028] The bracket fixing portion 426 of the base plate 42 is a portion to which the bracket 13 is fixed with screws. The bracket fixing portion 426 is a portion that extends from the front end (front edge) of the outer extending portion 425 toward the outside in the vehicle width direction (in other words, toward the side of the outer panel 203 of the vehicle door 20) and has a flat plate-like configuration that extends in the vehicle width direction and the second direction (in other words, extends in a direction perpendicular to the first direction). A predetermined number of screw insertion holes are provided in the bracket fixing portion 426. These screw insertion holes are through holes that penetrate in the first direction and are configured so that screws for fixing the bracket 13 to the bracket fixing portion 426 can be inserted from the front side.

[0029] The sub-plate 43 is provided with a latch support shaft fixing hole 431 and a pole support shaft fixing hole 432. The latch support shaft fixing hole 431 and the pole support shaft fixing hole 432 are both through-holes that penetrate in the first direction and are configured so that the front end of the latch support shaft 44 and the front end of the pole support shaft 45 can be inserted therein, respectively. The front end of the latch support shaft 44 inserted into the latch support shaft fixing hole 431, and the front end of the pole support shaft 45 inserted into the pole support shaft fixing hole 432 are fixed to the sub-plate 43 by caulking or the like.

[0030] The latch mechanism 111 is configured to be switchable among a fully latched state that holds the vehicle door 20 in a fully closed position, a half latched state that holds the vehicle door 20 in a half closed position, and an unlatched state that allows the vehicle door 20 to move to an open position. The open lever 49 and the open link 60 are configured to move from an initial position to an actuated position when at least one of the outside door handle 206 and the inside door handle 207 is operated. The initial position is an example of a first position of the present invention, and the actuated position is an example of a second position of the present invention. The open lever 49 is configured to switch the latch mechanism 111 from the fully latched state and the half latched state to the unlatched state by moving from the initial position to the actuated position. The configurations and operations of the latch mechanism 111 and the open lever 49 will be described later.

[0031] The bracket 13 is a member that holds the end of the outer cable 302 of the cable 30 and the waterproof cover 33. The bracket 13 is made of a metal plate and manufactured by press working. The bracket 13 has a first portion 131 and a second portion 132. The first portion 131 is a portion that includes a portion that is fixed to the bracket fixing portion 426 of the base plate 42 and a portion that holds the waterproof cover 33, and is a portion that has a flat plate-like configuration that extends in the second direction and the vehicle width direction (in other words, extends in a direction perpendicular to the first direction). The first portion 131 is provided with a screw hole 133 (female thread) for fixing the bracket 13 to the bracket fixing portion 426 of the base plate 42 and an engagement hole 135 for holding the waterproof cover 33.

[0032] The second portion 132 of the bracket 13 is a portion configured to hold the end of the outer cable 302 of the cable 30, and extends forward in the first direction (i.e., diagonally upward forward) from the lower end (lower side) of the first portion 131. In the present embodiment, the second portion 132 has a flat plate-like configuration extending in a direction substantially parallel to the first direction and the vehicle width direction. The second portion 132 of the bracket 13 is provided with a cable holding groove 134 capable of holding the outer cable 302. The cable holding groove 134 is a slit-shaped groove that extends in the vehicle width direction and penetrates in the up-down direction, and the end of the outer cable 302 is held in the second portion 132 by fitting the cap member 31 attached to the end of the outer cable 302 into this groove.

[0033] The configurations of the open lever 49 and the cable holder 32 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B. The open lever 49 is an example of a lever member of the present invention. FIGS. 6A and 6B are perspective views showing the configurations of the open lever 49 and the cable holder 32. As shown in these figures, the open lever 49 includes a main body 491, a first extending portion 492, a second extending portion 493, and a third extending portion 494. The open lever 49 is made of a metal plate and is formed by press working. The main body 491, the first extending portion 492, the second extending portion 493, and the third extending portion 494 are integrally formed.

[0034] The main body 491 of the open lever 49 is a flat plate-shaped portion that is long in a predetermined direction (in this embodiment, a direction substantially parallel to the vehicle width direction). An open lever shaft hole 495, which is a through-hole that penetrates the main body 491 in its thickness direction (in this embodiment, a first direction), is provided in the middle of the main body 491 in the longitudinal direction. This open lever shaft hole 495 is configured so that an open lever support shaft 412 provided in the base member 41 can be inserted therethrough.

[0035] The first extending portion 492 is a portion that extends from one end 496 of the main body 491 in the longitudinal direction (the outer end in the vehicle width direction in this embodiment) in a direction parallel to the axial direction of the open lever shaft hole 495 (forward in the first direction in this embodiment). The first extending portion 492 has a flat plate-like configuration that extends in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the main body 491 (directions parallel to the vehicle width direction and the first direction in this embodiment). In other words, the first extending portion 492 has a flat plate-like configuration whose thickness direction is approximately parallel to the longitudinal direction of the main body 491. Furthermore, when attached to the base member 41, the first extending portion 492 extends in a direction approximately parallel to the first direction and to a movement trajectory S of the open lever 49 when the open lever 49 moves from the initial position to the actuated position (described later).

[0036] The second extending portion 493 is a portion configured to be able to hold (connect) an end of the inner cable 301 of the cable 30 via the cable holder 32. The second extending portion 493 is a portion that extends from one side of the outer periphery of the first extending portion 492 as viewed in the second direction (in this embodiment, the outer periphery side located on the lower side) toward an opposite end of the main body portion 491 (in this embodiment, the end located on the inner side in the vehicle width direction). The second extending portion 493 has a flat plate-like configuration that extends in the penetration direction (first direction) of the open lever shaft hole 495 and in the longitudinal direction of the main body portion 491 (direction approximately parallel to the vehicle width direction).

[0037] The second extending portion 493 is located near one end (the lower end in this embodiment) in the shorter direction of the main body portion 491 when viewed in the penetration direction of the open lever shaft hole 495 (when viewed in the first direction). The second extending portion 493 is provided with a cable insertion groove 497 into which the inner cable 301 of the cable 30 can be inserted, and an engagement hole 498 into which the engagement claw portion of the cable holder 32 can be engaged (inserted). The cable insertion groove 497 is a groove (notch) that penetrates the second extending portion 493 in the thickness direction and is open on the end face (front end face) farther from the main body portion 491 in the first direction. The engagement hole 498 is a through hole that penetrates the second extending portion 493 in the thickness direction.

[0038] The third extending portion 494 is provided near one end in the longitudinal direction of the main body portion 491 (the end on the side where the first extending portion 492 and the second extending portion 493 are provided). The third extending portion 494 extends from one end in the transverse direction of the main body portion 491 (the lower end in this embodiment) to the outside in the transverse direction (the downward side in this embodiment), and its tip portion further extends toward the second extending portion 493. The end face of the tip of the third extending portion 494 (the front end face in the first direction) is in contact with or faces closely (at a small distance) the end face of the second extending portion 493 on the side closer to the main body portion 491 (the rear side face in this embodiment).

[0039] The other end in the longitudinal direction of the open lever 49 (in the present embodiment, the end on the inner side in the vehicle width direction) is configured to rotatably hold the open link 60. Specifically, the other end in the longitudinal direction of the main body 491 is provided with an open link support hole, which is a through-hole that penetrates in the thickness direction (in the present embodiment, the first direction).

[0040] The cable holder 32 is configured to be able to hold an end of the inner cable 301 of the cable 30, and is configured to be able to be fixed near one end 496 of the open lever 49 (on the side closer to the rotation center line C than the one end 496). Specifically, the cable holder 32 has a substantially rectangular box shape with two open faces, the front and the top. The cable holder 32 includes a bottom 321 (a portion corresponding to the bottom face of the substantially rectangular box) located at the bottom, and a rear wall 322 (a portion corresponding to one of the side faces of the substantially rectangular box) located rearward in the first direction and above the bottom 321 in the second direction.

[0041] The bottom 321 of the cable holder 32 is provided with a cable insertion groove 325 through which the inner cable 301 can be inserted. The cable insertion groove 325 is a slit-shaped groove (notch) that penetrates the bottom 321 of the cable holder 32 in the up-down direction. The inner cable 301 of the cable 30 is inserted into the cable insertion groove 325, and a drum provided at the end of the inner cable 301 is placed on the upper surface of the bottom 321 of the cable holder 32, thereby allowing the inner cable 301 to be held by the cable holder 32. The bottom 321 of the cable holder 32 is provided with a first engagement portion 323. The first engagement portion 323 has a plate-like or rod-like configuration that extends downward in the second direction from the bottom 321 of the cable holder 32. The first engagement portion 323 is also configured to be elastically deformable. An engaging claw that can engage with the lower surface of the second extending portion 493 of the open lever 49 is provided at the tip (lower end) of the first engaging portion 323.

[0042] A second engagement portion 324 is provided on the rear wall portion 322 of the cable holder 32. The second engagement portion 324 is located on the rear side of the rear wall portion 322 of the cable holder 32 in the first direction, and has a plate-like configuration extending from the upper end (upper side) of the rear wall portion 322 downward (toward the bottom portion 321). The second engagement portion 324 is configured to be elastically deformable.

[0043] Then, the main body 491 of the open lever 49 is inserted between the second engagement portion 324 and the rear wall portion 322 of the cable holder 32, and the first engagement portion 323 of the cable holder 32 is inserted into the engagement hole 498 provided in the second extending portion 493 of the open lever 49, thereby holding the cable holder 32 on the open lever 49. Furthermore, the inner cable 301 of the cable 30 is inserted into the cable insertion groove 497 of the second extending portion 493 of the open lever 49 and the cable insertion groove 325 of the bottom portion 321 of the cable holder 32, and a drum provided at the end of the inner cable 301 is placed inside (on the upper side of) the bottom portion 321 of the cable holder 32, thereby connecting the cable 30 to the second extending portion 493 of the open lever 49 via the cable holder 32.

[0044] (Door lock device assembly structure) Next, the assembly structure of the door lock device 10 will be described. The plate main body 421 of the base plate 42 is disposed on the rear side of the base member 41 and is fixed to the base member 41 with screws (see FIG. 5). The sub-plate 43 is disposed on the front side of the base member 41 and is attached to the base member 41 from the front side (see FIG. 3). The intermediate portions in the longitudinal direction (front-rear direction) of the latch support shaft 44 and the pole support shaft 45 are inserted into the latch support shaft insertion hole and the pole support shaft insertion hole of the base member 41, respectively, and the front end and the rear end are fixed to the base plate 42 and the sub-plate 43, respectively.

[0045] The open lever 49 is rotatably supported on the base member 41 (i.e., the housing of the door lock device 10) by inserting the open lever support shaft 412 into the open lever shaft hole 495. The open lever 49 is rotatably supported on the base plate 42 with its longitudinal direction substantially parallel to the vehicle width direction and with the first extending portion 492, the second extending portion 493, and the third extending portion 494 positioned outward in the vehicle width direction. The second extending portion 493 and the third extending portion 494 are positioned below the main body portion 491, and the second extending portion 493 extends forward in the first direction from the main body portion 491.

[0046] In a state where the open lever 49 is attached to the base member 41, the first extension portion 492 of the open lever 49 extends in a direction substantially parallel to the first direction and the movement trajectory S (see FIGS. 11A to 11C) of one end 496 of the main body portion 491 when the open lever 49 moves from the initial position to the actuated position. Note that, since the open lever 49 is rotatably supported with respect to the base member 41, the movement trajectory S of the one end 496 of the main body portion 491 (in other words, the movement trajectory of the first extension portion 492) when the open lever 49 moves from the initial position to the actuated position is an arc rather than a straight line. Therefore, "extending approximately parallel to the movement trajectory S of one end 496 of the main body portion 491 when the open lever 49 moves from the initial position to the operating position and in the first direction" means that "the normal to the thickness-wise surface of the first extension portion 492 (a straight line perpendicular to the surface)" and "the movement trajectory S of one end 496 of the main body portion 491 when the open lever 49 moves from the initial position to the operating position and a plane extending in the first direction" are approximately perpendicular to each other.

[0047] The "direction parallel to the movement locus S of the one end 496 when the open lever 49 moves from the initial position to the actuated position" can also be referred to as "a direction substantially parallel to the direction of the pulling force of the cable 30 on the second extending portion 493." In this case, if there is a position between the initial position and the actuated position of the open lever 49 where the planar direction of the first extending portion 492 is parallel to the direction of the pulling force of the cable 30, the direction can be referred to as "substantially parallel to the movement locus S when the open lever 49 moves from the initial position to the actuated position." For example, a configuration in which the planar direction of the first extending portion 492 is parallel to the direction of the pulling force of the cable 30 (the direction of the axis of the cable 30) when the open lever 49 is located at the initial position, or a configuration in which the planar direction of the first extending portion 492 is parallel to the direction of the pulling force of the cable 30 when the open lever 49 is located at the actuated position, can be applied. Furthermore, a configuration in which the planar direction of the first extending portion 492 is parallel to the pulling force of the cable 30 when the open lever 49 is located midway between the initial position and the actuated position, is also possible.

[0048] A portion of the open lever 49 where the open lever shaft hole 495 is provided and a portion thereof on the inner side in the vehicle width direction (the end portion to which the open link 60 is connected) are housed inside the housing of the door lock device 10 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). Specifically, the portion of the open lever 49 where the open lever shaft hole 495 is provided and a portion thereof on the inner side in the vehicle width direction are sandwiched in the front-rear direction by the housing 121 of the actuator body 12 and the base member 41 of the mating body 11, and are housed inside the housing of the door lock device 10 (see FIG. 3). Meanwhile, the remaining portions of the open lever 49, including the outer end portion of the main body 491 in the vehicle width direction and its vicinity, the first extending portion 492, the second extending portion 493, and the third extending portion 494, protrude outside the housing of the door lock device 10 (specifically, they protrude outward in the vehicle width direction from the housing). These portions protruding from the housing of door lock device 10 (the outer end of main body portion 491 in the vehicle width direction and its vicinity, first extending portion 492, second extending portion 493, and third extending portion 494) are examples of protruding portion 499 of the present invention. Note that at least a part of protruding portion 499 (the vicinity of one end 496 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction) protrudes further outward in the vehicle width direction than plate main body portion 421 and outer extending portion 425 of base plate 42 when viewed in the first direction.

[0049] The bracket 13 is fixed to the bracket fixing portion 426 of the base plate 42 with a screw. Specifically, the first portion 131 of the bracket 13 is disposed on the bracket fixing portion 426 so as to overlap in the first direction, and in this state, the first portion 131 of the bracket 13 is fixed to the bracket fixing portion 426 with a screw. When the bracket 13 is fixed to the bracket fixing portion 426, the second portion 132 of the bracket 13 extends forward in the first direction (i.e., diagonally upward and forward) from the first portion 131 of the bracket 13. The first portion 131 of the bracket 13 is located at a predetermined distance rearward in the first direction from a portion of the main body 491 of the open lever 49 near the outer end of the main body 491 on the vehicle width direction, the first extending portion 492, the second extending portion 493, and the third extending portion 494. The second portion 132 of the bracket 13 is located at a predetermined distance below the second extending portion 493 of the open lever 49.

[0050] The outer cable 302 of the cable 30 is held by the bracket 13. Specifically, a cap member 31 is fixed to an end of the outer cable 302. A groove extending in the circumferential direction is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the cap member 31. The cap member 31 is engaged with the bracket 13 so that the inner peripheral edge of the cable insertion groove of the bracket 13 fits into the groove of the cap member 31. This holds the outer cable 302 of the cable 30 so as not to move in the axial direction relative to the bracket 13. As described above, the inner cable 301 of the cable 30 is coupled (held) to the second extending portion 493 of the open lever 49 via the cable holder 32. When the inner cable 301 of the cable 30 is coupled to the second extending portion 493 of the open lever 49, the cable 30 is located at a position spaced a predetermined distance L1 forward in the first direction from the main body 491 of the open lever 49 (see FIG. 9 ). In other words, the cable 30 and the main body 491 of the open lever 49 are offset from each other by a distance L1 in the first direction.

[0051] A waterproof cover 33 is attached to the bracket 13. The waterproof cover 33 will now be described with reference to Fig. 7 and Fig. 8. Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the waterproof cover 33 before it is assembled. Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing a method for assembling the waterproof cover 33 to the door lock device 10.

[0052] The waterproof cover 33 is a member having a function of preventing or inhibiting water or the like (specifically, rainwater or the like) that has entered the interior of the vehicle door 20 from reaching the end of the cable 30 (particularly from entering the interior of the outer cable 302 of the cable 30). The waterproof cover 33 has a box-like configuration with a space provided inside, and is configured to cover (in other words, to accommodate inside) the part of the open lever 49 that protrudes from the housing 121, the end of the cable 30, and the bracket 13.

[0053] 7, the waterproof cover 33 includes a front half 331, a rear half 332, and a connecting portion 333. The waterproof cover 33 is made of a resin material. The front half 331, the rear half 332, and the connecting portion 333 are integrally molded.

[0054] The front half 331 has a box-like configuration with a bottom that is open on the rear side in the first direction and closed on the front side when assembled to the door lock device 10. A notch 337 through which the cable 30 can be inserted is provided in a portion of a side wall 334 (a portion corresponding to a side wall of a box) of the front half 331 that is located at the bottom end when assembled to the door lock device 10. The cable 30 is drawn into the interior of the waterproof cover 33 through this notch 337.

[0055] The rear half 332 is located rearward of the front half 331 in the first direction when assembled to the door lock device 10, and is configured to close the opening of the front half 331 (the rearward side of the front half 331 in the first direction). Specifically, the rear half 332 has a box-like configuration with a bottom that is open at the front side in the first direction and closed at the rear side when assembled to the door lock device 10. Furthermore, a rear wall 335 (a portion corresponding to the bottom of the box) of the rear half 332 is provided with a bracket insertion groove 338 that is a groove through which the second portion 132 of the bracket 13 can be inserted in the first direction. The bracket insertion groove 338 is a slit-shaped groove that penetrates the rear wall 335 of the rear half 332 in the first direction. Therefore, the second portion 132 of the bracket 13 can be inserted into the waterproof cover 33 from the rear side.

[0056] The waterproof cover 33 is assembled as follows. The rear half 332 of the waterproof cover 33 is attached to the front side of the first part 131 of the bracket 13 in the first direction. Then, an engagement protrusion (not shown) provided on the rear surface of the rear half 332 is fitted into an engagement hole 135 provided in the first part 131 of the bracket 13, thereby fixing the rear half 332 to the bracket 13. In this state, the second part 132 of the bracket 13 protrudes in the first direction forward of the rear wall part 335 of the rear half 332 through the bracket insertion groove 338 of the rear half 332. In addition, the part of the open lever 49 that protrudes from the housing of the door lock device 10, and the end of the cable 30 connected to the open lever 49 and its vicinity are located in the first direction forward of the rear wall part 335 of the rear half 332.

[0057] In this state, the connecting portion 333 is bent approximately 180 degrees, and the front half 331 is fitted to the front side of the rear half 332. As a result, the second portion 132 of the bracket 13, the portion of the open lever 49 that protrudes from the housing of the door lock device 10 (protrusion 499), and the end of the cable 30 that is connected to the open lever 49 and its vicinity are covered by the waterproof cover 33 (housed inside the waterproof cover 33).

[0058] 9 is a cross-sectional view of the door lock device 10 with the waterproof cover 33 attached, cut along a plane perpendicular to the second direction and viewed from below in the second direction. An opening 339 is provided in a portion of the waterproof cover 33 located on the inner side in the vehicle width direction (in other words, a portion facing the housing of the door lock device 10). This opening 339 is a gap formed between the front half 331 and the rear half 332, and has a slit-like configuration extending in the second direction. The portion of the open lever 49 that protrudes from the housing of the door lock device 10 enters the interior of the waterproof cover 33 through this opening 339.

[0059] The end of the cable 30 (the portion connected to the second extending portion 493 of the open lever 49) is located further forward in the first direction than the main body 491 of the open lever 49. Therefore, the end of the cable 30 is located further forward in the first direction than the opening 339 provided in the waterproof cover 33. As described above, the first direction is inclined upward in the front with respect to the front-to-rear direction (horizontal direction), and therefore the second extending portion 493 of the open lever 49 is located higher than the lower end (lower side) of the main body 491 of the open lever 49.

[0060] As described above, the waterproof cover 33 is provided with an opening 339 for allowing the portion of the open lever 49 that protrudes from the housing (protrusion 499) to enter the interior. Therefore, water or the like adhering to the housing of the door lock device 10 or the outer surface of the waterproof cover 33 may enter the interior of the waterproof cover 33 through this opening 339 when flowing down due to gravity. However, in this embodiment, the end of the cable 30 is offset by a distance L1 forward in the first direction from the opening 339 provided in the waterproof cover 33. Therefore, even if water or the like enters the interior of the waterproof cover 33, the entered water or the like is prevented or suppressed from reaching the end of the cable 30 (wetting the end of the cable 30, in particular, from entering the interior of the outer cable 302 of the cable 30).

[0061] Specifically, because the end of the cable 30 and the opening 339 of the waterproof cover 33 are spaced apart in the first direction, water or the like that has entered the waterproof cover 33 through the opening 339 moves forward in the first direction and is therefore likely to flow downward below the end of the cable 30 before reaching the end of the cable 30. Furthermore, the second extending portion 493 of the open lever 49 is inclined so that it becomes higher toward the front in the first direction. Therefore, if water or the like adheres to the main body portion 491 of the open lever 49, the adhered water or the like flows down the surface of the main body portion 491 of the open lever 49 and falls when it reaches the lower end (lower side) of the main body portion 491. In other words, because the second extending portion 493 is inclined so that it becomes higher as it moves away from the main body portion 491, water or the like that has reached the lower end of the main body portion 491 is prevented from reaching the end of the cable 30 along the second extending portion 493.

[0062] Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to prevent or suppress the end of the cable 30 from getting wet without interposing a double-sided tape for waterproofing between the waterproof cover 33 and the housing (base member 41 and housing 121) of the door lock device 10. Furthermore, since the double-sided tape is no longer necessary, the process of applying a primer to ensure adhesion between the double-sided tape and the waterproof cover 33 and the housing (base member 41) of the door lock device 10, and the process of attaching the double-sided tape are also unnecessary. This makes it possible to reduce component costs and manufacturing man-hours.

[0063] Note that the greater the distance in the first direction from the opening 339 of the waterproof cover 33 to the end of the cable 30, the greater the effect of preventing or suppressing water and the like from reaching the end of the cable 30. However, in order to increase the distance in the first direction from the opening 339 of the waterproof cover 33 to the end of the cable 30, the distance L1 in the first direction from the main body 491 of the open lever 49 to the end of the cable 30 must be increased. To achieve this, the length in the first direction of the second extending portion 493 must be increased, or the distance from the main body 491 to the second extending portion 493 must be increased.

[0064] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a conventional open lever 90. The conventional open lever 90 includes a flat extension portion 902 extending forward from the lower end (bottom side) of a main body 901 of the open lever 90. The end of the cable 30 is connected to the extension portion 902. The extension portion 902 corresponds to the second extension portion 493 of this embodiment. With this configuration, the length of the extension portion 902 in the first direction must be increased to increase the distance L1 in the first direction from the main body 901 to the end of the cable 30 so that water or the like does not reach the end of the cable 30. However, if the length of the extension portion 902 in the first direction is increased, when the inner cable 301 is pulled by operating the outside door handle 206, a moment is applied to the extension portion 902 such that the extension portion 902 bends downward around its base end (the point connected to the main body 901). This moment increases as the distance in the first direction from the main body 901 to the end of the cable 30 increases. That is, in the conventional open lever 90, if the length of the extending portion 902 in the first direction is increased to prevent water or the like from reaching the end of the cable 30, the rigidity of the extending portion 902 of the open lever 90 will be reduced. If the extending portion 902 is bent by being pulled by the cable 30, the open lever 90 may not move from the initial position to the actuated position. Note that the extending portion 902 has a flat plate-like configuration extending in a direction perpendicular to the second direction, and therefore is easily bent by the pulling force of the cable 30.

[0065] In this embodiment, the open lever 49 includes the first extension portion 492, the second extension portion 493, and the third extension portion 494, thereby increasing the rigidity of the open lever 49 against the pulling force of the cable 30. Specifically, when the cable 30 applies a force pulling the second extension portion 493 downward, the force is transmitted to the main body portion 491 through the first extension portion 492. The first extension portion 492 is a portion extending in a direction parallel to the movement trajectory S and the first direction when moving from the initial position to the actuated position (a flat portion extending in the up-down direction and the first direction). In other words, the direction of the pulling force of the cable 30 and the planar direction of the first extension portion 492 are substantially parallel. Therefore, the pulling force of the cable 30 acts on the first extension portion 492 as a planar pulling force. With this configuration, the amount of deformation of the first extension portion 492 can be reduced compared to a configuration in which the pulling force of the cable 30 acts in the thickness direction. Therefore, even if the distance L1 in the first direction from the main body 491 to the end of the cable 30 is increased, it is possible to prevent or suppress a decrease in the rigidity of the open lever 49 against the pulling force.

[0066] The tensile force of the cable 30 acts on the second extending portion 493 as a force perpendicular to the surface thereof. When the distance L2 from the base end of the first extending portion 492 (the position where the first extending portion 492 and the second extending portion 493 are connected) to the inner cable 301 increases, the second extending portion 493 becomes more likely to bend. However, this distance L2 may be the minimum distance required to hold the inner cable 301 in the second extending portion 493 (the minimum distance required to place the cable holder 32). That is, the distance from the second extending portion 493 to the inner cable 301 can be made small regardless of the distance from the main body portion 491 to the inner cable 301. Therefore, the distance L1 in the first direction from the main body portion 491 of the open lever 49 (in other words, the opening 339 provided in the waterproof cover 33) to the cable 30 can be made large to prevent or suppress the cable 30 from getting wet without reducing the rigidity of the open lever 49.

[0067] Furthermore, the end face of the second extending portion 493 on the rear side in the first direction and the tip end of the third extending portion 494 are in contact with or face each other. This configuration can enhance the effect of preventing or suppressing deformation of the second extending portion 493. That is, the second extending portion 493 is inclined with its front end raised. Therefore, when the second extending portion 493 is pulled downward by the cable 30, the tip end face of the third extending portion 494 comes into contact with the side surface of the second extending portion 493 on the rear side in the first direction (in other words, the end face of the tip end of the third extending portion 494 receives the tensile force of the cable 30 acting on the second extending portion 493), thereby preventing or suppressing deformation of the second extending portion 493.

[0068] Thus, according to this embodiment, while ensuring the rigidity of the open lever 49 (in other words, while preventing or suppressing a decrease in rigidity), the distance L1 from the main body 491 of the open lever 49 to the cable 30 can be increased to prevent or suppress the intrusion of water, etc. into the cable 30.

[0069] The waterproof cover 33 may be provided with a structure for preventing or suppressing the intrusion of water or the like into the interior. For example, as shown in FIG. 9 , the front end in the first direction of the side wall portion 336 of the rear half 332 and the rear end in the first direction of the side wall portion 334 of the front half 331 overlap each other. This configuration prevents or suppresses the intrusion of water or the like from the outside through the joint between the rear half 332 and the front half 331. However, an opening 339 for inserting the open lever 49 is provided in a portion of the waterproof cover 33 located on the inner side in the vehicle width direction (in other words, a portion facing the housing of the door lock device 10). At the location where the opening 339 is provided, the front end in the first direction of the side wall portion 336 of the rear half 332 and the rear end in the first direction of the side wall portion 334 of the front half 331 do not overlap each other but are separated in the first direction. For this reason, a water blocking wall 340 is provided on the side wall 334 of the front half 331 to prevent or inhibit water and the like from entering the interior of the waterproof cover 33 through the opening 339. The water blocking wall 340 is a plate-shaped portion extending inward in the vehicle width direction from the side wall 334 of the front half 331. The water blocking wall 340 is provided on the front side of the opening 339 in the first direction, and its tip in the extending direction is close to or in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the housing of the door lock device 10 (specifically, the housing 121 of the actuator body 12). Such a water blocking wall 340 can prevent or inhibit water and the like adhering to the outer peripheral surfaces of the waterproof cover 33 and the housing of the door lock device 10 from reaching the opening 339.

[0070] (Configuration and operation of latch mechanism) As described above, the latch mechanism 111 is configured to be switchable between a fully latched state, a half-latched state, and an unlatched state. Specifically, the latch mechanism 111 is configured to switch from the fully latched state or the half-latched state to the unlatched state when the open lever 49 moves from the initial position to the actuated position by operating at least one of the outside door handle 206 and the inside door handle 207. The configuration of the latch mechanism 111 is not particularly limited, but the following configuration, for example, can be applied. Figures 11A, 11B, and 11C are diagrams showing the configuration and operation of the latch mechanism 111 that can be applied to the door lock device 10 according to this embodiment. The latch mechanism 111 includes a latch 46, a pawl 47, a pawl lift lever 48, and an open link 60.

[0071] The latch 46 is provided with a latch shaft hole 461, a full latch claw 463, a half latch claw 464, and a striker holding groove 462. The latch support shaft 44 is inserted into the latch shaft hole 461 of the latch 46, and the latch 46 is rotatable around the latch support shaft 44. The rotation of the latch 46 allows the latch 46 to move to a full latched position shown in FIG. 11A , a half latched position, and an unlatched position shown in FIGS. 11B and 11C . The full latched position is a position where the vehicle door 20 is held in a fully closed position by holding the striker 21 provided on the vehicle body 1 (the vehicle door 20 is not allowed to be opened). The half latched position is a position where the vehicle door 20 is held in a half closed position by holding the striker 21. The half latched position is a position between the full latched position and the unlatched position, and in FIG. 11A , it is a position rotated a predetermined angle counterclockwise from the full latched position. The unlatched position is a position that allows the vehicle door 20 to be opened (moved to the open position) by being able to engage and disengage with the striker 21 provided on the vehicle body 1. The latch 46 is constantly elastically biased toward the unlatched position by a latch return spring (not shown).

[0072] The pole 47 and the pole lift lever 48 are rotatably supported on the base plate 42 and the sub-plate 43 via the pole support shaft 45. Specifically, the pole support shaft 45 is inserted through a pole shaft hole 471, which is a through-hole provided in the pole 47, and a lift lever shaft hole 481, which is a through-hole provided in the pole lift lever 48. The pole 47 and the pole lift lever 48 are engaged with each other and are configured to rotate integrally and coaxially.

[0073] The latch 46 and the pole 47 are disposed between the plate main body 421 of the base plate 42 and the base main body of the base member 41 (i.e., on the rear side of the base member 41). The latch support shaft 44 is inserted into the latch shaft hole 461 of the latch 46. Therefore, the latch 46 is rotatably supported by the base plate 42 and the sub-plate 43 via the latch support shaft 44. Similarly, the pole support shaft 45 is inserted into the pole shaft hole 471 of the pole 47. Therefore, the pole 47 is rotatably supported by the base plate 42 and the sub-plate 43 via the pole support shaft 45. The pole lift lever 48 is disposed between the base member 41 and the sub-plate 43 (i.e., on the front side of the base member 41). The pole support shaft 45 is inserted into a lift lever shaft hole 481 (described below) of the pole lift lever 48. Therefore, the pole lift lever 48 is rotatably supported by the base plate 42 and the sub-plate 43 via the pole support shaft 45. The pole 47 and the pole lift lever 48 are engaged with each other through an opening (a through-hole passing through in the front-rear direction) provided in the base member 41 so as to rotate together.

[0074] The pole 47 and the pole lift lever 48 are configured to be movable between an engaged position shown in FIG. 11A and a retracted position shown in FIGS. 11B and 11C by rotation. The engaged position is a position where the engaging portion 472 of the pole 47 engages with the full latch claw 463 of the latch 46, which is positioned at the latched position, thereby holding the latch 46 at the latched position (preventing movement from the latched position to the unlatched position). Specifically, the engaged position of the pole 47 is a position where the engaging portion 472 of the pole 47 is inside the rotation trajectory of the full latch claw 463 and half latch claw 464 of the latch 46. The retracted position is a position where movement of the latch 46 from the full latched position to the unlatched position and movement in the opposite direction are permitted. Specifically, the retracted position of the pole 47 is a position where the entire pole 47, including the engaging portion 472, is outside the rotation trajectory of the full latch claw 463 and half latch claw 464 of the latch 46. The pole 47 and the pole lift lever 48 are constantly elastically biased toward the engagement position by a pole return spring (not shown).

[0075] The open lever 49 is rotatably supported by the base member 41. The open lever 49 has a plate-like configuration that is long in the vehicle width direction, and an open lever shaft hole 495, which is a through-hole that penetrates in a first direction (thickness direction), is provided in the middle portion in the longitudinal direction. An open lever support shaft 412 provided in the base member 41 is inserted into this open lever shaft hole 495, so that the open lever 49 is rotatably supported by the base member 41 around a straight line parallel to the first direction. The open lever 49 can be moved by rotation between an initial position shown in FIG. 11A and an actuated position shown in FIGS. 11B and 11C. The open lever 49 is constantly elastically biased toward the initial position by an open lever return spring (not shown).

[0076] When the inner cable 301 is pulled by operating the outside door handle 206 (moving it from the initial position to the door open position), the open lever 49 moves from the initial position to the actuated position. When the inside door handle 207 is operated, the open lever 49 is configured to move from the initial position to the actuated position by the movement of the inside door handle 207 being transmitted via a linkage mechanism (not shown). Note that while neither the outside door handle 206 nor the inside door handle 207 is operated, the open lever 49 is held in the initial position by an open lever return spring (not shown).

[0077] An open link 60 is connected to the other longitudinal end of the open lever 49, which is the end on the inner side in the vehicle width direction. The open link 60 can be moved between an unlocked position and a locked position by rotating relative to the open lever 49. FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C show the open link 60 in the unlocked position. The unlocked position of the open link 60 is a position where, when the open link 60 moves together with the open lever 49 from the initial position to the actuated position, the engaging portion 601 of the open link 60 engages (contacts) with the pressed portion 482 of the pawl lift lever 48, thereby pressing the pressed portion 482 of the pawl lift lever 48. The locked position of the open link 60 is a position where, when the open link 60 moves together with the open lever 49 from the initial position to the actuated position, the engaging portion 601 of the open link 60 does not engage (contact) with the pressed portion 482 of the pawl lift lever 48. 11A, 11B, and 11C, the locked position of the open link 60 is a position rotated counterclockwise by a predetermined angle from the unlocked position shown in these figures.

[0078] When the vehicle door 20 is in the fully closed position, the latch 46 is in the fully latched position, as shown in Fig. 11A. If the open lever 49 is in the initial position in this state, the pawl 47 and the pawl lift lever 48 are held in the engaged position by the biasing force of the pawl return spring. When the pawl 47 and the pawl lift lever 48 are in the engaged position, the full latch claw 463 of the latch 46 engages with the engaging portion 472 of the pawl 47, preventing the latch 46 from moving toward the unlatched position. Therefore, the striker 21 cannot come out of the striker retaining groove 462 of the latch 46, and the vehicle door 20 is held in the fully closed position (the vehicle door 20 is not allowed to open).

[0079] When the outside door handle 206 is operated to move from the initial position to the door open position in the state shown in FIG. 11A , the movement of the outside door handle 206 is transmitted to the open lever 49 via the cable 30 (specifically, the open lever 49 is pulled), and the open lever 49 moves from the initial position to the actuated position as shown in FIG. 11B . In this embodiment, the open lever 49 moves from the initial position to the actuated position by rotating the body 491 so that the outer end of the body 491 in the vehicle width direction moves downward and the inner end (the end connected to the open link 60) in the vehicle width direction moves upward. At this time, if the open link 60 is in the unlocked position, the engaging portion 601 of the raised open link 60 engages (contacts) with the pressed portion 482 of the pawl lift lever 48, which is in the engaged position, and pushes up the pressed portion 482. As a result, the pawl 47 and the pawl lift lever 48 move from the engaged position to the retracted position. As a result, as shown in Fig. 11B, the rotation of the latch 46 is no longer restricted by the pole 47, and the latch 46 moves from the fully latched position to the unlatched position as shown in Fig. 11C due to the biasing force of the latch return spring. When the latch 46 is in the unlatched position, the striker 21 becomes freely disengageable from the latch 46 (comes out of the striker holding groove 462), and the vehicle door 20 becomes openable (movable to the open position).

[0080] When the open link 60 is in the locked position, even if the open lever 49 moves from the initial position to the actuated position, the engaging portion 601 of the open link 60 does not come into contact with the pressed portion 482 of the pawl lift lever 48. Therefore, the pawl 47 does not move from the initial position, and the latch 46 is held in the fully latched position. Therefore, the vehicle door 20 is held in the closed state (the vehicle door 20 is not allowed to open).

[0081] The actuator body 12 also houses an actuator (not shown) that selectively moves the open link 60 to either the unlocked position or the locked position, and an actuator (not shown) that moves the open lever 49 from the initial position to the actuated position. In this way, the door lock device 10 is configured so that it can be switched between the locked state and the unlocked state, and from the latched state to the unlatched state, by the driving force of the actuator. The configuration of the actuator body 12 is not particularly limited, and various known configurations can be applied. The actuator body 12 according to this embodiment only needs to have a housing 121 to which the above-mentioned sub-assembly can be fixed with screws.

[0082] Although the embodiments and modifications of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and modifications.

[0083] For example, the configuration of the latch mechanism 111 is not limited to the configuration shown in the above embodiment, as long as the latch mechanism 111 is configured to switch from a latched state to an unlatched state when the open lever 49 moves from the initial position to the actuated position.

[0084] Furthermore, the configuration of the open lever 49 is not limited to the configuration shown in the above embodiment, as long as the open lever 49 is configured to switch the latch mechanism 111 from a latched state to an unlatched state by moving from the initial position to the actuated position. [Explanation of symbols]

[0085] 1...vehicle body, 10...door lock device, 13...bracket, 20...vehicle door, 30...cable, 33...waterproof cover, 49...open lever, 206...outside door handle, 491...main body of open lever, 492...first extension of open lever, 493...second extension of open lever, 494...third extension of open lever

Claims

1. a latch mechanism configured to be switchable between a latched state that holds the vehicle door in a closed state and an unlatched state that allows the vehicle door to be opened; a lever member that is supported rotatably between a first position and a second position with respect to a housing, and that is configured to switch the latch mechanism from the latched state to the unlatched state by rotating from the first position to the second position, and that has a protrusion that protrudes outside the housing; a cable having one end connected to the protrusion of the lever member, the cable being configured to pull the protrusion of the lever member in conjunction with operation of a door handle provided on the vehicle door, thereby moving the lever member from the first position to the second position; a waterproof cover having a box-like configuration with a space formed therein, the waterproof cover accommodating the protruding portion of the lever member and the end of the cable connected to the lever member; Equipped with The protrusion of the lever member has a main body portion formed in a plate shape that is long in a predetermined direction and rotatably supported by the housing; and one end in the longitudinal direction of the main body portion. a first extension portion formed in a plate shape extending in a direction substantially parallel to a movement locus of the one end of the lever member when the lever member moves from the first position to the second position and to a rotation center line of the main body portion, and extending from the one end of the main body portion in a direction substantially parallel to the rotation center line; a plate-shaped second extending portion extending from the first extending portion toward an end portion opposite to the one end in the longitudinal direction of the main body portion; Contains, the protrusion of the main body of the lever member is provided in the waterproof cover, and enters the inside of the waterproof cover through an opening that communicates the inside and the outside of the waterproof cover; an end of the cable is held by the second extension portion at a position spaced apart from the opening and the main body portion in a direction parallel to the rotation center line; A door lock device for a vehicle.

2. 2. The vehicle door lock device according to claim 1, the lever member includes a third extension portion extending from the one end of the main body portion, a tip end of the third extension portion is in contact with an end surface of the second extension portion that is closer to the main body portion, or is adjacent to and faces an end surface of the second extension portion that is closer to the main body portion; A door lock device for a vehicle.

3. 3. The vehicle door lock device according to claim 1, The second extension portion is inclined so that its height position increases as the distance from the main body portion in the direction of the rotation center line increases. A door lock device for a vehicle.

Images