Door handle device for vehicle

Abstract

To improve an operation feeling and make an illuminating effect more effective.SOLUTION: In a vehicle door handle device 10, a bottom part of a pocket part 20 is opened outward in the thickness direction of a side door 100 by a door opening 102A. A door handle 40 is provided on a top part of the pocket part 20, and an LED 66 is provided inside the door handle 40. A light guide part 50 is provided below the LED 66, the light guide part 50 is provided in a top edge part of the door opening 102A and inside the pocket part 20, and a right edge face of the light guide part 50 is exposed to be visible from the door opening 102A. Thus the light guide part 50 illuminated by the LED 66 can be provided along the top edge part of the door opening 102A to be visible, and the top inner peripheral part of the door opening 102A can be covered from below by the light guide part 50.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] In the door handle assembly described in Patent Document 1 below, a pocket provided in the door is partially exposed through an opening in the door panel. A cover plate is provided in the opening and is positioned so as to be flush with the door panel. An operator can unlatch the door by moving the cover plate within the pocket and operating the latch release handle. A lamp assembly is provided behind the upper edge of the opening in the door panel, and illuminates the inside of the pocket. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7068180 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the above door handle assembly leaves room for improvement in the following respects. Because the latch release handle is located behind the upper edge of the opening in the door panel, the operator's hand comes into contact with the edge of the opening when operating the door handle assembly. This can reduce the feel of operating the door handle assembly. Furthermore, with the above door handle assembly, the pocket illuminated by the lamp assembly cannot be seen until the cover plate is operated. In other words, the above door handle assembly leaves room for improvement in terms of effectively utilizing the lighting effect of the lamp assembly.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In consideration of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle door handle device that can improve the operational feel and provide a more effective lighting effect. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One or more embodiments of the present invention are a vehicle door handle device comprising: a pocket portion provided inside a vehicle door and open to the outside in a thickness direction of the door; an outer panel that constitutes the outer portion of the door in the thickness direction and has a door opening that opens a lower portion of the pocket portion to the outside in the thickness direction of the door; and a door handle provided within an upper portion of the pocket portion and arranged on the back side of the outer panel, wherein the door handle includes: a detection unit provided inside the door handle that detects operation of the door handle by an operator; a light source provided inside the door handle; and a light guiding unit that is provided inside the pocket portion, covers an upper inner periphery of the door opening from below, is exposed so as to be visible from the upper end of the door opening, and irradiates light incident from the light source into the inside of the pocket portion and to the outside in the thickness direction of the door. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the switch device having the above configuration, it is possible to improve the operational feel and to make the lighting effect more effective. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a side view seen from the right side of a vehicle to which a vehicle door handle device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied; [Figure 2] 2 is an enlarged side view of the vehicle door handle device shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the outer surface of the door panel. [Figure 3] 3 is a cross-sectional view (cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2) showing the interior of the vehicle door handle device shown in FIG. 2 as viewed from the rear side of the vehicle. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the door handle and its surroundings shown in FIG. 3. [Figure 5](A) is a side view from the right side of the vehicle showing another example of the vehicle door handle device shown in Figure 2, and (B) is a side view from the right side of the vehicle showing the handle cover of (A) rotated to the open position. [Figure 6] (A) is a cross-sectional view (cross-sectional view along line 6A-6A in FIG. 5(A)) of the interior of the vehicle door handle device shown in FIG. 5(A) as viewed from the rear side of the vehicle, and (B) is a cross-sectional view (cross-sectional view along line 6B-6B in FIG. 5(B)) of the interior of the vehicle door handle device shown in FIG. 5(B) as viewed from the rear side of the vehicle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] A vehicle door handle device 10 according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle door handle device 10 is applied to a side door 100 of a vehicle (automobile) V. Note that arrows UP, FR, and RH, which are appropriately shown in the drawings, indicate the upper side, front side, and right side of the vehicle door handle device 10, respectively. In the following description, when up-down, front-rear, and left-right directions are used, these directions refer to the up-down, front-rear, and left-right directions of the vehicle door handle device 10 unless otherwise specified. Furthermore, the side door 100 of this embodiment is configured as a door on the right side of the vehicle V, and the left-right direction coincides with the thickness direction of the side door 100, with the right side corresponding to the outer side in the thickness direction of the side door 100 and the left side corresponding to the inner side in the thickness direction of the side door 100.

[0010] 2 to 4, the vehicle door handle device 10 includes a pocket portion 20 and a door handle 40, and the pocket portion 20 and the door handle 40 are provided inside a side door 100. A door opening 102A is formed in an outer panel 102 that constitutes the outer portion of the side door 100 in the thickness direction, and an operator inserts his / her hand into the side door 100 through the door opening 102A to operate the vehicle door handle device 10. The door opening 102A is formed in the shape of a substantially rectangular elongated hole with the longitudinal direction extending in the front-to-rear direction, and the edge of the door opening 102A is bent to the left.

[0011] (Regarding the pocket portion 20) The pocket portion 20 is formed in a recessed shape that is open to the right side. The length of the pocket portion 20 in the front-rear direction is approximately the same as the length of the door opening 102A in the front-rear direction, and the length of the pocket portion 20 in the up-down direction is longer than the length of the door opening 102A in the up-down direction, and the pocket portion 20 is deeper toward the top, allowing a hand to be inserted. The pocket portion 20 is disposed on the left side (back side) of the outer panel 102 so that the lower portion of the pocket portion 20 is open to the right side through the door opening 102A. In other words, the upper portion of the pocket portion 20 is blocked from the right side by a portion of the outer panel 102 that is above the door opening 102A. The pocket portion 20 is fixed to a handle base 30 provided inside the side door 100 at a position not shown.

[0012] The pocket portion 20 is formed in a generally inverted J shape that is open to the right when viewed from the rear. More specifically, the pocket portion 20 includes an upper wall 20A that extends generally in the left-right direction when viewed from the rear, and a slope portion 20B that extends downward from the left end of the upper wall 20A. When viewed from the rear, the slope portion 20B is formed in a generally arc-shaped recess that is open to the right, and the lower end of the slope portion 20B is located slightly to the right of the right end of the upper wall 20A.

[0013] (About door handle 40) The door handle 40 includes a housing 42 that forms the outer shell of the door handle 40 , a knob member 54 , and a switch light source unit 60 that is disposed inside the housing 42 .

[0014] The housing 42 includes a housing base 44 for supporting a switch light source unit 60 (described later), and a housing cover 46 for covering the switch light source unit 60 from the left side.

[0015] The housing base 44 constitutes the right end of the housing 42 and is formed in a generally elongated plate shape with its thickness oriented generally in the left-right direction and extending in the front-rear direction. The housing base 44 is disposed generally parallel to the outer panel 102 with a predetermined distance therebetween on the left side of the outer panel 102, and is disposed above the door opening 102A when viewed from the right side. The housing base 44 is fastened and fixed to the handle base 30, which is disposed between the housing base 44 and the outer panel 102, at a position not shown.

[0016] The housing cover 46 includes a cover main body 48 and an operating portion 52 formed integrally with the cover main body 48. The cover main body 48 is made of a light-transmitting resin material and is formed in a generally elongated recess shape that extends in the front-to-rear direction and is open to the right. The cover main body 48 is fixed to the housing base 44 with the edge of the opening of the cover main body 48 abutting the outer periphery of the housing base 44 from the left side. In other words, the right opening of the cover main body 48 is closed by the housing base 44.

[0017] The lower end of the cover body 48 is configured as a light guide portion 50 serving as a light guide portion. The light guide portion 50 irradiates light emitted by an LED 66 (described later) to the inside and outside of the pocket portion 20 (to the outside in the thickness direction of the side door 100). The light guide portion 50 is formed in a generally elongated plate shape with its thickness direction extending in the vertical direction and its length extending in the front-rear direction. When viewed from the rear of the vehicle, the light guide portion 50 extends in the left-right direction so as to cover the housing base 44 and the upper edge of the door opening 102A from below. The right end of the light guide portion 50 is configured as an outer guide portion 50A serving as an outer light guide portion. The outer guide portion 50A is disposed within the upper end of the door opening 102A and covers the upper inner periphery of the door opening 102A from below. The right end surface of the outer guide portion 50A is disposed flush with the right side surface (surface) of the outer panel 102 and is exposed outward in the thickness direction of the side door 100 from the upper end of the door opening 102A. The portion of the light guide portion 50 other than the outer guide portion 50A is configured as an inner guide portion 50B that serves as an inner light guiding portion. The inner guide portion 50B extends to the left from the outer guide portion 50A and is disposed in the vertical middle of the right opening of the pocket portion 20. The left end portion of the inner guide portion 50B protrudes upward and is formed integrally with an operating portion 52, which will be described later.

[0018] A stepped portion 48A, which is one step lower, is formed on the outer periphery of the left wall (bottom wall) of the cover main body 48, and the stepped portion 48A extends in the front-to-rear direction along the cover main body 48. The upper end of the stepped portion 48A extends to the left portion of the upper wall of the cover main body 48. An operation hole 48B is formed through the left wall of the cover main body 48 at a lower part of the stepped portion 48A, and the operation hole 48B is formed in a generally elongated hole shape that extends in the front-to-rear direction.

[0019] The operation unit 52 is a portion operated by the operator and transmits the input operating force to a switch 64 (described later). The operation unit 52 is made of an elastic material such as elastomer and is formed integrally with the cover main body 48. Specifically, the operation unit 52 is formed in a generally long sheet shape extending in the front-to-rear direction and is disposed within the stepped portion 48A of the cover main body 48, covering the stepped portion 48A. As a result, the operation hole 48B of the cover main body 48 is blocked by the operation unit 52. A grip portion 52A protruding to the left is formed at a position corresponding to the operation hole 48B of the operation unit 52, and the grip portion 52A is formed in a generally arc-shaped shape that opens to the right. The grip portion 52A is located above the left end of the light guide unit 50.

[0020] The knob member 54 is formed in a generally elongated shape extending in the front-rear direction, and the upper end of the knob member 54 is supported by the cover body 48 so as to be rotatable with the front-rear direction as its axial direction. A knob body 54A is formed at the lower end of the knob member 54, and the knob body 54A is formed in a generally C-shape that opens to the right when viewed from the rear of the vehicle. The knob body 54A is disposed adjacent to the right side of the grip portion 52A of the operating unit 52. A pressing portion 54B that protrudes to the right is formed at the middle portion of the knob body 54A in the front-rear direction, and the right end (tip) of the pressing portion 54B is formed in a generally semicircular shape that convexly protrudes to the right when viewed from the front-rear direction.

[0021] The switch light source unit 60 includes a substrate 62, a switch 64 as a detector, and a plurality of LEDs 66 as light sources. The substrate 62 is formed in a generally elongated plate shape with its thickness extending generally in the left-right direction and its length extending in the front-rear direction. The substrate 62 is accommodated inside the housing 42, and the outer periphery of the substrate 62 is sandwiched in the left-right direction between the housing base 44 and the cover main body 48, thereby fixing the substrate 62 to the housing 42.

[0022] The switch 64 is mounted on the left surface of the substrate 62 and is disposed adjacent to the right side of the pressing portion 54B of the knob member 54. The switch 64 is configured as a so-called push switch and is electrically connected to the control unit 110 of the vehicle V. As a result, when the operating portion 52 of the door handle 40 is pressed to the right and the pressing portion 54B of the knob member 54 is displaced to the right, the switch 64 is turned on and the control unit 110 detects that the door handle 40 has been operated.

[0023] The LEDs 66 are mounted on the lower end of the left surface of the substrate 62 and are arranged side by side at predetermined intervals in the front-to-rear direction. The LEDs 66 are electrically connected to the control unit 110 and emit light downward (toward the inner guide portion 50B). As a result, the light from the LEDs 66 is guided within the inner guide portion 50B and is emitted from the lower surface of the inner guide portion 50B into the pocket portion 20 (see arrow B in FIG. 3). The light guided within the inner guide portion 50B toward the outer guide portion 50A is emitted from the right end surface of the outer guide portion 50A to the outside of the pocket portion 20 (outside in the thickness direction of the side door 100) (see arrow A in FIG. 3).

[0024] The control unit 110 is electrically connected to a communication unit 120 provided in the vehicle V, and the communication unit 120 is connected via wireless communication to a portable device (not shown) carried by the operator. When the operator carrying the portable device approaches the vehicle V within a predetermined distance, an authentication code is transmitted and received between the communication unit 120 and the portable device, and the control unit 110 performs authentication based on the authentication code received by the communication unit 120. Furthermore, when the authentication code from the portable device matches a registered official code, the control unit 110 causes the LED 66 to emit light.

[0025] Furthermore, the control unit 110 is configured to change the light color of the LED 66 depending on the state of the side door 100. For example, when the locking device of the side door 100 is in a locked state, the light color of the LED 66 is orange, and when the locking device of the side door 100 is in an unlocked state, the light color of the LED 66 is green.

[0026] (Action and effect) In the vehicle door handle device 10 configured as described above, the lower portion of the pocket portion 20 provided in the side door 100 is opened outward in the thickness direction of the side door 100 by the door opening 102A of the outer panel 102. The door handle 40 is provided at the upper portion of the pocket portion 20, and the door handle 40 is located on the back side of the outer panel 102.

[0027] When the operator presses the operating portion 52 with his / her hand inserted into the pocket portion 20, the switch 64 in the door handle 40 is pressed by the pressing portion 54B of the knob member 54. As a result, the control portion 110 detects the operation on the door handle 40.

[0028] Here, an LED 66 is provided inside the door handle 40, and a light-transmitting light guide portion 50 is provided below the LED 66. The light guide portion 50 is disposed at the upper end of the door opening 102A and inside the pocket portion 20, with the right end surface of the light guide portion 50 exposed and visible from the door opening 102A. Light incident on the light guide portion 50 from the LED 66 is irradiated downward (toward the lower portion of the pocket portion 20) from the lower surface of the light guide portion 50, and is also irradiated to the right (outside in the thickness direction of the side door 100) from the right end surface of the light guide portion 50. As a result, the light guide portion 50 (outer guide portion 50A) illuminated by the LED 66 is visibly disposed along the upper end of the door opening 102A, and the light guide portion 50 (outer guide portion 50A) can cover the upper inner periphery of the door opening 102A from below. As a result, the illuminated light guide portion 50 allows the operator to directly recognize the upper end of the door opening 102A, while preventing the operator's hand from directly touching the upper inner periphery of the door opening 102A. This allows the operator to easily grasp the position of the door opening 102A and the state of the side door 100. As described above, the vehicle door handle device 10 of this embodiment can more effectively exhibit the illumination effect while improving the operability.

[0029] Furthermore, in the door handle 40, the light guide portion 50 forms the lower end portion of the door handle 40, and the operating portion 52 is located above the left end portion of the light guide portion 50. This allows the light guide portion 50 to effectively illuminate the hand of the operator operating the operating portion 52 inside the pocket portion 20. Furthermore, since the operating portion 52 is located above the illuminated light guide portion 50, the position of the operating portion 52 can be easily ascertained. This improves convenience for the operator.

[0030] In addition, in the door handle 40, the operating portion 52 and the light guide portion 50 are integrally formed. This contributes to reducing the cost of the door handle 40, and ultimately to reducing the cost of the vehicle door handle device 10.

[0031] The light guide section 50 also has an inner guide section 50B for irradiating the light from the LEDs 66 into the interior of the pocket section 20, and an outer guide section 50A for irradiating the light from the LEDs 66 outside the pocket section 20. Therefore, the inner guide section 50B, which functions as an illumination section that illuminates the pocket section 20, and the outer guide section 50A, which functions as an indicator, can be realized by the single light guide section 50. This makes it possible to realize an efficient illumination structure.

[0032] In the vehicle door handle device 10 of this embodiment, the lower portion of the pocket portion 20 is opened outward in the thickness direction of the side door 100 by the door opening 102A of the outer panel 102. However, the vehicle door handle device 10 may be provided with a handle cover that closes the door opening 102A so that it can be opened and closed. That is, the door handle 40 may be applied to a vehicle door handle device as a so-called flush handle. Hereinafter, an example in which the door handle 40 is applied to a vehicle door handle device 200 configured as a flush handle will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. In the vehicle door handle device 200 of FIGS. 5 and 6, components configured in the same manner as in this embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0033] As shown in these figures, in the vehicle door handle device 200, a storage section 22 for storing the handle cover 70 is provided below the pocket section 20. A communication hole 20C is formed in the lower part of the slope section 20B of the pocket section 20, and the inside of the pocket section 20 and the inside of the storage section 22 are in communication with each other through the communication hole 20C.

[0034] The handle cover 70 includes a cover main body 70A that forms the upper portion of the handle cover 70, and a connecting portion 70B. The cover main body 70A is formed in the shape of a generally hollow rectangular plate that extends in the front-rear direction and has a thickness that is generally in the left-right direction. The cover main body 70A is disposed below the light guide portion 50, within the door opening 102A, and within the lower portion of the pocket portion 20 so as to close the portion of the door opening 102A other than the upper end (the portion excluding the area where the outer guide portion 50A of the light guide portion 50 is disposed). The right surface of the cover main body 70A is disposed so as to be flush with the surface of the outer panel 102. As a result, the door opening 102A is closed by the cover main body 70A, with the outer guide portion 50A of the light guide portion 50 exposed to the outside of the side door 100.

[0035] The connecting portion 70B protrudes to the left from the lower end of the cover main body 70A and extends downward. The lower end of the connecting portion 70B is connected to the storage portion 22 so as to be rotatable about the front-to-rear direction. This allows the handle cover 70 to rotate between a closed position (shown in FIGS. 5A and 6A) and an open position (shown in FIGS. 5B and 6B) rotated to the left from the closed position. The handle cover 70 is biased toward the closed position by a biasing spring (not shown). When the handle cover 70 is in the closed position, the connecting portion 70B abuts against the pocket portion 20, thereby holding the handle cover 70 in the closed position. When the operator rotates the handle cover 70 to the open position against the biasing force of the biasing spring, the handle cover 70 is stored in the storage portion 22. The operator can then insert their hand into the pocket portion 20 to press the operating portion 52 of the door handle 40.

[0036] As described above, in the vehicle door handle device 200 configured as a flush handle, similarly to the vehicle door handle device 10 of the present embodiment, the light guide portion 50 (outer guide portion 50A) illuminated by the LED 66 can be visibly arranged along the upper end of the door opening 102A, and the upper inner periphery of the door opening 102A can be covered from below by the light guide portion 50 (outer guide portion 50A). Thus, in the vehicle door handle device 200 as well, the illumination effect can be more effectively exhibited while improving the operability.

[0037] In the vehicle door handle devices 10 and 200, the operation of the door handle 40 by the operator is detected by the switch 64, but the method of detecting the operation of the door handle 40 by the operator is not limited to this. For example, instead of the switch 64, a touch sensor or a strain sensor may be provided on the door handle 40 to detect the operation of the door handle 40 by the operator.

[0038] Furthermore, in the door handle 40 of the vehicle door handle devices 10, 200, the operating portion 52 presses the switch 64 via the knob member 54, but the operating portion 52 may be configured to press the switch 64 directly. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 10. Door handle device for vehicle 20 Pocket 40 Door handle 50 Light guide section (light guide section) 50A outer guide part (outer light guide part) 50B Inner guide part (inner light guide part) 52 Operation section 64 Switch (detection part) 66 LED (light source) 70 Steering wheel cover 100 Side door (door) 102 Outer panel 102A Door Opening 200 Door handle device for vehicle V vehicle

Claims

1. a pocket portion provided inside the vehicle door and open outward in a thickness direction of the door; an outer panel that forms an outer portion of the door in a thickness direction and has a door opening that opens a lower portion of the pocket portion outward in the thickness direction of the door; a door handle provided within an upper portion of the pocket portion and disposed on the back surface side of the outer panel; Equipped with The door handle is a detection unit provided inside the door handle and detecting an operation of the door handle by an operator; a light source provided inside the door handle; a light guide portion disposed inside the pocket portion, covering an upper inner periphery of the door opening from below, and visibly exposed from an upper end portion of the door opening, for irradiating light incident from the light source into the pocket portion and outward in a thickness direction of the door; A vehicle door handle device comprising:

2. The door handle has an operating portion that is operated by an operator, 2. The vehicle door handle device according to claim 1, wherein the light guide portion forms a lower end portion of the door handle, and the operating portion is located above an inner end portion of the light guide portion in a thickness direction of the door.

3. The light guiding section is an outer light guiding portion that constitutes an outer end portion of the light guiding portion in the thickness direction of the door, is disposed within an upper end portion of the door opening, and irradiates light from the light source outward in the thickness direction of the door; an inner light guiding portion extending from the outer light guiding portion toward an inner side in a thickness direction of the door and disposed below the light source, and irradiating light from the light source downward; 3. The vehicle door handle device according to claim 2, comprising:

4. 4. The vehicle door handle device according to claim 3, wherein the light guide portion is integrally formed with the operating portion.

5. 4. The vehicle door handle device according to claim 3, further comprising a handle cover that opens and closes the door opening except for an upper end portion thereof.

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