Vehicle door opening / closing operation device

Abstract

Provided is a vehicle door opening / closing operation device with which it is possible to improve the appearance of the door by reducing division lines appearing on the door surface. A vehicle door opening / closing operation device 1 according to the present invention is for operating a door lock device 3 of a door 2 of a vehicle, and comprises: a base 10 attached to the door 2; a first operation member 11 which is attached to the base 10 so as to be operated from the outside of the door 2, and transmits a door opening operation of the user as an electric signal to the door lock device 3; and a second operation member 12 which is attached to the base 10, and mechanically transmits a door opening operation of the user to the door lock device 3. The first operation member 11 at least partially overlaps with the second operation member 12 in a door front view to cover at least a part of the second operation member 12.

Description

Vehicle door opening / closing device

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle door opening / closing operating device for operating a door lock device of a vehicle door.

[0002] In the past, when a door handle was attached by cutting out a part of the surface of a vehicle door, a parting line was created on the surface of the door, which detracted from the design of the vehicle body. In Patent Document 1 listed below, in order to increase the degree of freedom in the design of the vehicle body, it is proposed to integrate the door handle with the window molding, thereby reducing the parting line and improving the design.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 64-9019

[0004] In recent years, with the electrification of vehicles, there has been an increase in cases where switches are added instead of handles, but conventional door handles cannot be eliminated in case of emergencies such as a dead battery. For this reason, it is conceivable to provide a switch separate from the door handle as in Patent Document 1, but this would increase the number of dividing lines that appear on the door surface and mar the aesthetic appearance of the door.

[0005] The embodiment of the present invention provides a vehicle door opening / closing operating device that can reduce parting lines that appear on the door surface and improve the aesthetic appearance of the door.

[0006] An embodiment of the present invention comprises a base attached to a door, a first operating member attached to the base so as to be operable from outside the door and transmitting the user's door opening operation to the door lock device as an electrical signal, and a second operating member attached to the base and mechanically transmitting the user's door opening operation to the door lock device, wherein the first operating member at least partially overlaps with the second operating member when viewed from the front of the door, thereby obscuring at least a portion of the second operating member.

[0007] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first operating member at least partially overlaps with the second operating member when viewed from the front of the door, thereby covering at least a portion of the second operating member, thereby reducing the number of dividing lines appearing on the door surface and improving the aesthetic appearance of the door.

[0008] 1 is a front view showing a vehicle door opening / closing operating device according to a first embodiment of the present invention mounted on a vehicle. FIG. 1 is a front view showing an enlarged view of the vehicle door opening / closing operating device of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the vehicle door opening / closing operating device of FIG. 2 as seen from diagonally above right. FIG. 1 is a front view showing the vehicle door opening / closing operating device of FIG. 1 alone. FIG. 4 is a rear view showing the vehicle door opening / closing operating device of FIG. 4. FIG. 5 is a left side view showing the vehicle door opening / closing operating device of FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a right side view showing the vehicle door opening / closing operating device of FIG. 4. FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the vehicle door opening / closing operating device of FIG. 4. FIG. 8 is a bottom view showing the vehicle door opening / closing operating device of FIG. 4. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the vehicle door opening / closing operating device of FIG. 4 as seen from diagonally above rear. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the vehicle door opening / closing operating device of FIG. 4 as seen from diagonally above front. FIG. 12 is a front view showing the vehicle door opening / closing operating device of FIG. 4 with the operated member removed from the base. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle door opening / closing operating device taken along line A-A in FIG. 4. FIG. 14 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the operated member of FIG. 13 is pushed. 23 is a perspective view showing a state in which an operated member of the vehicle door opening / closing device of FIG. 4 is operated in a second operation direction. FIG. 24 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the input portion of FIG. 15 is pulled up. FIG. 25 is a plan view of the vehicle door opening / closing device of FIG. 15. FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle door opening / closing device of FIG. 17. FIG. 27 is a plan view of a vehicle door opening / closing device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 28 is a front view of a vehicle door opening / closing device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 29 is a front view of a vehicle door opening / closing device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 29 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the input portion of FIG. 21 is rotated. FIG. 29 is a plan view of a vehicle door opening / closing device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 29 is a front view of the vehicle door opening / closing device of FIG. 23. FIG. 30 is a rear view of the vehicle door opening / closing device of FIG. 23. FIG. 31 is a left side view of the vehicle door opening / closing device of FIG. 23. FIG. 32 is a right side view of the vehicle door opening / closing device of FIG. 23. FIG. 33 is a plan view of the vehicle door opening / closing device of FIG. 23 in a state in which the first operation member of FIG. 23 is operated in the second operation direction. FIG. 34 is a front view of the vehicle door opening / closing device of FIG. 34. FIG. 35 is a rear view of the vehicle door opening / closing device of FIG. 35. 29 is a left side view showing the vehicle door opening / closing operating device of Figure 28. FIG. 29 is a right side view showing the vehicle door opening / closing operating device of Figure 28.

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to each embodiment, and the components can be modified and embodied without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining multiple components disclosed in each embodiment. For example, some components may be omitted from all the components shown in the embodiments. Furthermore, components of different embodiments may be appropriately combined.

[0010] Embodiment 1. Figure 1 is a front view showing a vehicle door opening / closing device 1 according to embodiment 1 of the present invention mounted on a vehicle, Figure 2 is an enlarged front view showing the vehicle door opening / closing device 1 of Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a perspective view of the vehicle door opening / closing device 1 of Figure 2 as seen from diagonally above to the right. Note that in each of these figures, including Figures 1 to 3, some components may be omitted from the illustration.

[0011] The vehicle door opening / closing operating device 1 shown in Figures 1 to 3 is a device for operating a door lock device 3 of a vehicle door 2. Figures 1 to 3 show an embodiment in which the vehicle door opening / closing operating device 1 is attached to the outside of the front right door 2 of the vehicle. However, the vehicle door opening / closing operating device 1 may also be attached to another door 2, such as the front left door 2.

[0012] The door lock device 3 is a device for locking / unlocking and / or unlatching the door 2. In this embodiment, the description will be given assuming that the operation of the vehicle door opening / closing device 1 is transmitted to the door lock device 3 to unlatch the door 2. However, alternatively or additionally, the door lock device 3 may lock or unlock the door 2 when the operation of the vehicle door opening / closing device 1 is transmitted.

[0013] The vehicle door opening / closing device 1 includes a base 10 , a first operating member 11 , and a second operating member 12 .

[0014] The base 10 is a member attached to the door 2. When the vehicle door opening / closing operating device 1 is mounted on the vehicle as shown in Figures 1 to 3, the base 10 is hidden behind the first operating member 11. The base 10 is shown in Figures 5 and 10, etc.

[0015] The first operating member 11 is attached to the base 10 so as to be operable from outside the door 2, and is a member for transmitting a door opening operation by a user as an electrical signal to the door lock device 3. The first operating member 11 can transmit the door opening operation to the door lock device 3 when the vehicle power source is available.

[0016] The second operating member 12 is attached to the base 10 and serves to mechanically transmit the door opening operation of the user to the door lock device 3. The second operating member 12 is primarily operated when the vehicle's power source is unavailable, for example, when the battery is dead.

[0017] The door lock device 3 unlatches the door 2 when a user's door opening operation is transmitted from the first operating member 11 or the second operating member 12. This unlatching releases the door 2. As described above, the door lock device 3 may alternatively or additionally lock and unlock the door 2.

[0018] In the vehicle door opening / closing device 1 of this embodiment, the first operating member 11 at least partially overlaps with the second operating member 12 in a front view of the door, thereby concealing at least a portion of the second operating member 12. In other words, the first operating member 11 also serves as a cover for concealing the second operating member 12. Therefore, although a dividing line resulting from the outer shape of the first operating member 11 appears on the surface of the door 2, a dividing line resulting from the second operating member 12 or a member solely used to conceal the second operating member 12 does not appear separately. This reduces the number of dividing lines appearing on the door surface compared to when a dividing line resulting from the second operating member 12 appears separately, thereby improving the aesthetic appearance of the door 2. Note that the front view of the door can be understood to refer to the view of the exterior of the door 2 from the side of the vehicle by a user outside the vehicle.

[0019] The first operating member 11 (more specifically, the operated member 110 described below) is arranged adjacent to a main frame portion 210 that is arranged around the window opening 20 of the door 2, and may be adapted to form, together with the main frame portion 210, a frame body 21 that surrounds the window opening 20. A missing portion is provided in a part of the frame body 21, and the first operating member 11 is arranged to fill the missing portion. The main frame portion 210 may be understood to be the remaining part of the frame body 21 excluding the missing portion or the first operating member 11.

[0020] The frame body 21 may have a lower frame 21a extending in the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle below the window opening 20, a front frame 21b extending upward from the front end of the lower frame 21a, a rear frame 21c extending upward from the rear end of the lower frame 21a, and an upper frame 21d extending in the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle between upper ends of the front frame 21b and the rear frame 21c. The lower frame 21a is sometimes called a molding portion, the front frame 21b and the rear frame 21c are sometimes called pillar portions, and the upper frame 21d is sometimes called a roof pillar portion.

[0021] As shown in the figure, the first operating member 11 may extend in the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle below the window opening 20 and may be adapted to form at least a part of the lower frame 21 a. The first operating member 11 may be adapted to form the rear end of the lower frame 21 a.

[0022] Alternatively, although not shown, the first operating member 11 may extend in the height direction of the vehicle in front of or behind the window opening 20 and be adapted to form a part of the front frame 21 b or the rear frame 21 c. The first operating member 11 may be adapted to form a lower end portion of the front frame 21 b or the rear frame 21 c.

[0023] Alternatively, although not shown, the first operating member 11 may be disposed inside the frame 21 .

[0024] When the first operating member 11 is disposed inside the frame body 21, the first operating member 11 may be provided separately from the frame body 21, for example, inside a corner of the frame body located at the lower rear end of the window opening 20 in Fig. 1. In this case, the first operating member 11 may be provided within a triangular area having a lower side extending along the lower frame 21a, a vertical side extending along the rear frame 21c, and a hypotenuse connecting the tips of the lower side and the vertical side.

[0025] Alternatively, although not shown, the first operating member 11 may be disposed outside the frame body 21 .

[0026] When the first operating member 11 is disposed outside the frame 21, the first operating member 11 may be attached to, for example, an opening provided in the outer panel 22 of the door 2. Even in these cases, the number of dividing lines appearing on the door surface can be reduced, and the aesthetic appearance of the door 2 can be improved, compared to an embodiment in which a cover that hides the first operating member 11 and the second operating member 12 is provided separately.

[0027] The first operating member 11 may be operable in a first operating direction in response to a user's door opening operation and in a second operating direction different from the first operating direction. The first operating member 11 may be displaceable in the second operating direction so that the second operating member 12 appears to the outside, and the second operating member 12 may be configured to be operable by the user in the exposed state. In other words, when the door is opened in a normal range, the second operating member 12 does not appear to the outside, and therefore the second operating member 12 may not be operable.

[0028] Although not limited thereto, the first operation direction and the second operation direction may be opposite directions or perpendicular to each other. In this embodiment, the first operation direction is the direction from the front to the back of the paper in Fig. 1, and the second operation direction is the direction opposite to the first operation direction from the back to the front of the paper in Fig. 1. The operation and displacement of the first operating member 11 will be described in detail later with reference to the drawings.

[0029] The second operating member 12 includes an input unit 120 that accepts operations by the user, and a mechanical transmission unit 121 that has one end connected to the input unit 120 and the other end 121b connected to the door locking device 3 and transmits the user's operations on the input unit 120 to the door locking device 3, and the first operating member 11 may overlap at least the input unit 120 when viewed from the front of the door.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 1, the input unit 120 may be an annular member, and the mechanical transmission unit 121 may be a cord-like member such as a wire or a cable, but is not limited thereto.

[0031] As shown in the figure, the input portion 120 may be disposed so that its upper portion protrudes upward from the upper end 22a of the outer panel 22 of the door 2 and its lower portion is located behind the outer panel 22. The first operating member 11 may be disposed so as to overlap with the upper portion of the input portion 120 in a front view of the door. Alternatively, although not shown, the entire input portion 120 may be disposed above the upper end 22a of the outer panel 22 of the door 2, and the first operating member 11 may overlap with the entire input portion 120 in a front view of the door.

[0032] One end of the mechanical transmission unit 121 may be connected to a lower portion of the input unit 120. As particularly shown in Fig. 16 below, when the input unit 120 is pulled upward with the second operating member 12 exposed to the outside, the pulling operation may be transmitted to the door lock device 3 through the mechanical transmission unit 121. The operating direction of the input unit 120 may be changed as desired, and for example, when the first operating member 11 is attached to an opening provided in the outer panel 22 of the door 2 as described above, the input unit 120 may be pulled toward the front in the thickness direction of the door 2.

[0033] Next, the vehicle door opening / closing device 1 will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 4 to 18. FIG. 4 is a front view showing the vehicle door opening / closing device 1 of FIG. 1 alone, FIG. 5 is a rear view showing the vehicle door opening / closing device 1 of FIG. 4, FIG. 6 is a left side view showing the vehicle door opening / closing device 1 of FIG. 4, FIG. 7 is a right side view showing the vehicle door opening / closing device 1 of FIG. 4, FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the vehicle door opening / closing device 1 of FIG. 4, and FIG. 9 is a bottom view showing the vehicle door opening / closing device 1 of FIG. 4. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the vehicle door opening / closing device 1 of FIG. 4 as seen obliquely from above and behind, and FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the vehicle door opening / closing device 1 of FIG. 4 as seen obliquely from above and front. FIG. 12 is a front view showing the vehicle door opening / closing device 1 of FIG. 4 with the operated member 110 removed from the base 10. Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle door opening / closing operating device 1 taken along line A-A in Fig. 4, and Fig. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the operated member 110 in Fig. 13 is pushed. Fig. 15 is a perspective view showing a state in which the operated member 110 of the vehicle door opening / closing operating device 1 in Fig. 4 is operated in a second operating direction, and Fig. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the input unit 120 in Fig. 15 is pulled up. Fig. 17 is a plan view of the vehicle door opening / closing operating device 1 in Fig. 15, and Fig. 18 is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle door opening / closing operating device 1 in Fig. 17.

[0034] 12 and 15, the base 10 may be a housing having an opening 10a on the front surface thereof, and may have an overall elongated rectangular cylindrical shape with a bottom. The front surface may be the surface facing outward from the vehicle. More specifically, the base 10 may have a rear wall portion 100, a first side wall portion 101, a second side wall portion 102, a lower wall portion 103, and an upper wall portion 104.

[0035] The rear wall 100 is a wall located at the rear of the opening 10a and extends in the longitudinal and vertical directions of the base 10. The first side wall 101, the second side wall 102, the lower wall 103, and the upper wall 104 are erected from the edge of the rear wall 100 toward the front. The inner surfaces of the first side wall 101, the second side wall 102, the lower wall 103, and the upper wall 104 define the internal space of the base 10. The opening 10a is also defined by the front ends of the first side wall 101, the second side wall 102, the lower wall 103, and the upper wall 104.

[0036] The first side wall portion 101 and the second side wall portion 102 are disposed spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the base 10 and extend in the height direction of the base 10. The base 10 of this embodiment is adapted so that the first side wall portion 101 is positioned in the front of the vehicle and the second side wall portion 102 is positioned in the rear of the vehicle.

[0037] A rotating portion 105 is provided on the outer surface of the first side wall portion 101, and an operated member 110 of a first operating member 11 (described later) is rotatably supported by the rotating portion 105 relative to the base 10. As particularly shown in Fig. 12 , the rotating portion 105 may be provided with a support body 105a protruding from the outer surface of the first side wall portion 101 and a shaft body 105b inserted into a through-hole provided in the support body 105a. The shaft body 105b is fixed to a base end portion 113 of the operated member 110 (described later), thereby allowing the operated member 110 to be rotatably supported.

[0038] In the depth direction of the base 10, the amount by which the second side wall 102 protrudes from the rear wall 100 may be smaller than the amount by which the first side wall 101 protrudes from the rear wall 100. By making the amount of protrusion of the second side wall 102 relatively small, a gap 115 (see FIG. 13 ) can be more reliably formed between the front end of the second side wall 102 and the rear surface of a free end 114 of the operated member 110 described below.

[0039] The lower wall portion 103 and the upper wall portion 104 are spaced apart from each other in the height direction of the base 10 and extend in the longitudinal direction of the base 10. The lower wall portion 103 and the upper wall portion 104 are provided with cutouts 103a, 104a that are arranged to overlap each other when the lower wall portion 103 and the upper wall portion 104 are viewed along the height direction of the base 10. As particularly shown in FIG. 15 , the input portion 120 of the second operating member 12 is inserted into the cutout 103a of the lower wall portion 103. That is, the upper portion of the input portion 120 is accommodated within the internal space of the base 10 through the cutout 103a of the lower wall portion 103. As particularly shown in FIG. 16 , when the second operating member 12 is exposed to the outside, the input portion 120 can be pulled up through the cutout 104a of the upper wall portion 104.

[0040] The first operating member 11 may include an operated member 110 operated by a user, and a switch unit 111 (see FIG. 12 , etc.) that is pressed by the user's operation of the operated member 110 and outputs an electrical signal. The operated member 110 may include an operated member main body 112 that is configured longitudinally and covers a part of the second operating member 12 (more specifically, the input unit 120), a base end 113 that is provided at one end in the longitudinal direction of the operated member main body 112 and attached to the base 10, and a free end 114 that is provided at the other end in the longitudinal direction of the operated member main body 112 and is displaceable at least in a first operating direction. The switch unit 111 may be arranged so as to be pressed when the free end 114 is displaced in the first operating direction.

[0041] 11 , the operated member body 112 may have a generally L- or C-shaped external shape in a side view. The operated member body 112 may have a first design portion 112a located above the base 10 and a second design portion 112b located on the front surface of the base 10. The second design portion 112b may be positioned so as to overlap with the upper portion of the input portion 120 in a front view of the door.

[0042] The base end 113 and the free end 114 may be disposed at both longitudinal ends of the operated member body 112. The operated member body 112 of this embodiment is adapted so that the base end 113 is positioned at the front of the vehicle and the free end 114 is positioned at the rear of the vehicle.

[0043] The free end 114 is positioned in front of or in front of the second side wall portion 102 of the base 10 (in other words, at a position outside the vehicle relative to the second side wall portion 102), and when the operated member 110 is not being operated by the user, a gap 115 may be formed between the front end or tip of the second side wall portion 102 and the back surface of the free end 114.

[0044] The free end 114 is permitted to be displaced in a first operation direction by the gap 115. The displacement of the free end 114 in the first operation direction is particularly shown in Fig. 14. The displacement in the first operation direction is a displacement from below to above the plane of the page in Fig. 14, and may be a displacement from the outside to the inside of the vehicle.

[0045] The switch unit 111 may be disposed in the internal space of the base 10. The switch unit 111 may be disposed between the second side wall portion 102 and the notches 103a, 104a of the lower wall portion 103 and the upper wall portion 104.

[0046] The switch unit 111 may be disposed near the free end 114. The vicinity of the free end 114 may be a position closer to the free end 114 than the center position of the operated member body 112 in the longitudinal direction of the operated member body 112.

[0047] A protrusion 112c (see FIG. 13, etc.) for pressing the switch portion 111 may be provided on the rear surface of the operated member main body 112.

[0048] The base end 113 may be attached to the base 10 by a rotating part 105 that supports the operated member 110 rotatably relative to the base 10 .

[0049] The operated member 110 may further include a stopper portion 116 (see FIG. 13 , etc.) that protrudes from the rear surface of the operated member body 112 toward the base 10 and prevents the operated member 110 from rotating in the first operating direction. When the operated member 110 includes the stopper portion 116, when the operated member 110 is operated in the first operating direction, the operated member body 112 may elastically deform with the stopper portion 116 as a starting point, causing the free end portion 114 to be displaced in the first operating direction.

[0050] The stopper portion 116 may be disposed in the vicinity of the base end portion 113. The vicinity of the base end portion 113 may be a position closer to the base end portion 113 than the center position of the operated member main body 112 in the longitudinal direction of the operated member main body 112.

[0051] The stopper portion 116 may be disposed between the cutout portions 103a, 104a of the lower wall portion 103 and the upper wall portion 104 and the first side wall portion 101. The amount of protrusion of the stopper portion 116 from the rear surface of the operated member main body 112 may be the same as the amount of protrusion of the first side wall portion 101 from the rear wall portion 100. In other words, when the operated member 110 is not being operated by the user, the tip of the stopper portion 116 may be in contact with the rear wall portion 100 of the base 10.

[0052] 15 to 18, when the operated member 110 is operated in the second operating direction, the operated member 110 may be configured to be displaceable by rotating about the rotating portion 105. The operated member 110 in this embodiment is rotatable about an axis extending in the height direction of the base 10, and when operated in the second operating direction, the free end portion 114 is rotated in the depth direction of the base 10 so as to move away from the base 10.

[0053] In the above description, the operation of the operated member 110 by the user is detected by the switch unit 111 attached to the base 10, but the switch unit 111 may be fixed to the back surface of the operated member 110, and when operated by the user, the switch unit 111 may be pressed against a protrusion that protrudes from the base 10. Furthermore, the method of detecting the operation of the operated member 110 is not limited to the switch unit 111, and the operation of the operated member 110 may be detected by a sensor such as a capacitance sensor or an inductive sensor attached to the base 10 or the operated member 110, for example.

[0054] Embodiment 2. Figure 19 is a plan view showing a vehicle door opening / closing operating device 1 according to embodiment 2 of the present invention. In embodiment 1, the operated member body 112 has been described as being adapted so that the base end 113 is positioned in the front of the vehicle and the free end 114 is positioned in the rear of the vehicle, but the orientation of the operated member body 112 can be changed as desired. For example, the operated member body 112 may be arranged so that the base end 113 is positioned in the rear of the vehicle and the free end 114 is positioned in the front of the vehicle. The other configurations are the same as those of embodiment 1.

[0055] Embodiment 3. Figure 20 is a front view showing a vehicle door opening / closing operating device 1 according to embodiment 3 of the present invention. In embodiment 1, the operated member 110 has been described as being rotatable about an axis extending in the height direction of the base 10, but the direction in which the rotation axis of the operated member 110 extends can be changed as desired. For example, as shown in Figure 20, the operated member 110 may be rotatable about an axis extending in the depth direction of the base 10. In this case, when operated in the second operating direction, the free end 114 can be rotated in the height direction of the base 10 so as to move away from the base 10. The other configurations are the same as those of embodiments 1 and 2.

[0056] Embodiment 4. FIG. 21 is a front view showing a vehicle door opening / closing operating device 1 according to embodiment 4 of the present invention, and FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram showing the state in which the input unit 120 of FIG. 21 is rotated. In embodiment 1, the input unit 120 of the second operating member 12 is described as an annular body that receives a pulling operation. However, the shape and / or operation mode of the input unit 120 can be changed as desired. For example, as shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, the input unit 120 may be a lever body that receives a rotating operation. The input unit 120 is rotatably supported by a supporting portion 120a. When the input unit 120 receives a rotating operation, the rotating operation can be transmitted to the door lock device 3 through a mechanical transmission portion 121. The input unit 120 may be rotated counterclockwise from a state tilted toward the front of the vehicle to a state tilted toward the rear of the vehicle, as shown in the figure. The rotation direction of the input unit 120 may also be clockwise. The other configurations are the same as those of embodiments 1 to 3.

[0057] Embodiment 5. Figure 23 is a plan view showing a vehicle door opening / closing operating device 1 according to embodiment 5 of the present invention, Figure 24 is a front view showing the vehicle door opening / closing operating device 1 of Figure 23, Figure 25 is a rear view showing the vehicle door opening / closing operating device 1 of Figure 23, Figure 26 is a left side view showing the vehicle door opening / closing operating device 1 of Figure 23, and Figure 27 is a right side view showing the vehicle door opening / closing operating device 1 of Figure 23. Also, Figure 28 is a plan view showing the vehicle door opening / closing operating device 1 in a state in which the first operating member 11 of Figure 23 is operated in the second operating direction, Figure 29 is a front view showing the vehicle door opening / closing operating device 1 of Figure 28, Figure 30 is a rear view showing the vehicle door opening / closing operating device 1 of Figure 28, Figure 31 is a left side view showing the vehicle door opening / closing operating device 1 of Figure 28, and Figure 32 is a right side view showing the vehicle door opening / closing operating device 1 of Figure 28.

[0058] In the first embodiment, when the first operating member 11 is operated in the second operating direction, the second operating member 12 is displaced to appear outside, and the user can operate the exposed second operating member 12. However, the first operating member 11 may be mechanically connected to the second operating member 12. When the first operating member 11 is operated in the second operating direction, which is different from the first operating direction operated by the user to open the door, the operation in the second operating direction may be transmitted from the first operating member 11 to the second operating member 12, and the second operating member 12 may transmit the operation in the second operating direction to the door lock device 3. That is, the user may operate the second operating member 12 via the first operating member 11 without directly operating the second operating member 12. In this embodiment, the first operating member 11 may be simply referred to as the operating member, and the second operating member 12 may be referred to as the mechanical transmission mechanism. The mechanical transmission mechanism can mechanically transmit the operation of the operating member in the second operating direction to the door lock device 3. In the illustrated embodiment, the first operation direction is the direction from the bottom to the top of the paper in FIG. 23, and the second operation direction is the direction from the top to the bottom of the paper in FIG.

[0059] The first operating member 11 of the fifth embodiment includes an operated member 110 that is operated by a user, and a switch unit 111 that is pushed by the user's operation of the operated member 110 and outputs an electrical signal. The first operating member 11 is configured longitudinally and includes an operated member main body 112 that covers a part of the second operating member 12 (more specifically, the upper part of the first hinge 51), a base end 113 that is provided on one end in the longitudinal direction of the operated member main body 112 and attached to the base 10, and a free end 114 that is displaceable at least in a first operating direction on the other end in the longitudinal direction of the operated member main body 112. The switch unit 111 is arranged so as to be pushed when the free end 114 is displaced in the first operating direction.

[0060] Although not shown in Figures 23 to 32, similar to the configuration of embodiment 1, a base 10 such as that shown in Figure 12 or 15 may be disposed on the back surface of the operated member body 112, and a switch unit 111 may be attached to the base 10. The base end 113 may be attached to the base 10 by a rotating unit 105 that pivotally supports the operated member 110 relative to the base 10 so that the operated member 110 can rotate relative to the base 10. The operated member 110 may further include a stopper unit 116 (see Figure 13, etc.) that protrudes from the back surface of the operated member body 112 toward the base 10 and prevents the operated member 110 from rotating in the first operating direction. When the operated member 110 includes the stopper unit 116, when the operated member 110 is operated in the first operating direction, the operated member body 112 may elastically deform around the stopper unit 116, thereby displacing the free end unit 114 in the first operating direction.

[0061] The second operating member 12 of the fifth embodiment includes a first hinge 51 , a lever 52 , a bell crank 53 , a second hinge 54 and a mechanical transmission unit 121 .

[0062] The first hinge 51 is a shaft that extends in a height direction H that is perpendicular to the length direction L of the operated member 110. An upper portion of the first hinge 51 is fixed to a base end portion 113 of the first operating member 11.

[0063] The lever 52 is a member fixed to the lower part of the first hinge 51 and is provided so as to be rotatable integrally with the first hinge 51. The lever 52 extends below the operated member 110 in a depth direction D that is perpendicular to the length direction L and the height direction H.

[0064] Bell crank 53 is disposed below operated member 110 and to the side of lever 52. Bell crank 53 is a generally L-shaped member in front view, and has an axial portion 530 journaled on second hinge 54 extending in depth direction D, a first side portion 531 extending from axial portion 530 in a first direction, and a second side portion 532 extending from axial portion 530 in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. Bell crank 53 is disposed so that first side portion 531 abuts against a side surface of lever 52.

[0065] More specifically, the first side 531 has a first outer surface 531a extending from the axial center 530, a second outer surface 531b constituting the tip surface of the first side 531 farthest from the axial center 530, and a corner 531c where the first outer surface 531a and the second outer surface 531b butt against each other. As particularly shown in FIG. 24 , the bell crank 53 is positioned so that the corner 531c abuts against the side surface of the lever 52 when the first operating member 11 is not operated in the second operating direction. The corner 531c is located between the second hinge 54 and the side surface of the lever 52. The corner 531c and the lever 52 are positioned lower than the second hinge 54.

[0066] The second side portion 532 is disposed at a position spaced apart from the first side portion 531 in the longitudinal direction L of the operated member 110. The distance from the second hinge 54 to the tip of the second side portion 532 is longer than the distance from the second hinge 54 to the tip of the first side portion 531. As particularly shown in Figure 24, the bell crank 53 is disposed so that the second side portion 532 extends obliquely downward from the second hinge 54 when the first operating member 11 is not operated in the second operating direction.

[0067] One end of the mechanical transmission part 121 is connected to the tip of the second side part 532, and the other end is connected to the door lock device 3 (see FIG. 1). The mechanical transmission part 121 extends downward from the periphery of the tip of the second side part 532.

[0068] When the first operating member 11 or the operated member 110 receives an operation in the second operating direction, the first operating member 11 is rotated about the first hinge 51, as particularly shown in Figure 28, and the first hinge 51 is rotated together with the first operating member 11. In response to this rotation of the first hinge 51, the lever 52 is rotated about the first hinge 51.

[0069] As lever 52 rotates, lever 52 presses first side 531, causing bell crank 53 to rotate around second hinge 54. This rotation of bell crank 53 pulls up second side 532 and mechanical transmission unit 121, and the operation of first operating member 11 in the second operating direction is transmitted to door lock device 3 via mechanical transmission unit 121. The rest is the same as in the first to fourth embodiments.

[0070] The configuration of embodiment 5 has the aspect that even when the vehicle's power source is unavailable, the door opening operation can be transmitted to the door lock device 3 simply by displacing the first operating member 11 in the second operating direction, thereby improving convenience for the user.

[0071] In this regard, the present specification can be understood to include the following inventions: [Item 1] A vehicle door opening / closing operating device for operating a door lock device of a vehicle door, the vehicle door opening / closing operating device comprising: a base attached to the door, a first operating member or operating member attached to the base so as to be operable from outside the door and transmitting a user's door opening operation to the door lock device as an electrical signal, and a mechanical transmission mechanism attached to the base and mechanically transmitting the user's door opening operation to the door lock device, wherein the first operating member is mechanically connected to the mechanical transmission mechanism, and when the first operating member receives an operation in a second operating direction different from a first operating direction operated by the user's door opening operation, the operation in the second operating direction is transmitted from the first operating member to the mechanical transmission mechanism, and the mechanical transmission mechanism transmits the operation in the second operating direction to the door lock device. [Item 2] The vehicle door opening / closing operating device described in Item 1, wherein the first operating member includes: an operated member operated by a user; and a switch unit that is pushed by the user's operation of the operated member to output the electrical signal; the operated member includes: an operated member main body; a base end portion provided on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the operated member main body and attached to the base; and a free end portion provided on the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the operated member main body and displaceable in at least the first operating direction; and the switch unit is arranged to be pushed when the free end portion is displaced in the first operating direction.[Item 3] The vehicle door opening / closing operating device according to Item 2, wherein the base end is attached to a base by a rotating part that pivotally supports the operated member so that the operated member is rotatable relative to the base, the operated member further includes a stopper part that protrudes from a rear surface of the operated member main body toward the base and prevents the operated member from rotating in the first operating direction, when the operated member is operated in the first operating direction, the operated member main body elastically deforms with the stopper part as a starting point, thereby displacing the free end part in the first operating direction, and when the operated member is operated in the second operating direction, the operated member is configured to rotate around the rotating part as an axis and be displaceable. [Item 3] The vehicle door opening / closing operating device according to Item 2, wherein the base end is attached to a base by a rotating part that pivots and supports the operated member relative to the base, the operated member further includes a stopper part that protrudes from a rear surface of the operated member main body toward the base and prevents the operated member from rotating in the first operating direction, when the operated member is operated in the first operating direction, the free end part is displaced in the first operating direction, [Item 4] The mechanical transmission mechanism includes: a first hinge having an upper portion fixed to the base end portion; a lever fixed to a lower portion of the first hinge and rotatable integrally with the first hinge; a bell crank having an axis supported by a second hinge, a first side portion extending from the axis portion in a first direction, and a second side portion extending from the axis portion in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the first side portion being disposed so as to abut against a side surface of the lever; and a mechanical transmission part having one end connected to a tip end of the second side portion and the other end connected to the door lock device, wherein when the first operating member receives an operation in the second operating direction, the first operating member rotates around the first hinge, the first hinge rotates together with the first operating member, and the lever rotates around the first hinge in response to the rotation of the first hinge, The vehicle door opening / closing device according to item 3, wherein the lever presses the first side portion in response to rotation of the lever, causing the bell crank to rotate about the second hinge, and the rotation of the bell crank pulls up the second side portion and the mechanical transmission unit, so that operation of the first operating member in the second operating direction is transmitted to the door lock device via the mechanical transmission unit. [Item 5] The vehicle door opening / closing device according to item 4, wherein the operated member and an upper part of the first hinge overlap in a front view of the door.

[0072] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention is not limited to these examples. It is clear that a person skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains can conceive of various modifications and alterations within the scope of the technical ideas set forth in the claims, and it is understood that these also naturally fall within the technical scope of the present invention.

[0073] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1: Vehicle door opening / closing operation device 2: Door 3: Door lock device 10: Base 10a: Opening 11: First operating member 12: Second operating member 20: Window opening 21: Frame body 105: Rotating portion 110: Operated member 111: Switch portion 112: Operated member body 113: Base end portion 114: Free end portion 116: Stopper portion 120: Input portion 121: Mechanical transmission portion 121b: Other end 210: Main portion of frame body

Claims

1. A vehicle door opening / closing operating device for operating a door lock device of a vehicle door, comprising: a base attached to the door; a first operating member attached to the base so as to be operable from outside the door, and transmitting a user's door opening operation to the door lock device as an electrical signal; and a second operating member attached to the base, and mechanically transmitting the user's door opening operation to the door lock device, wherein the first operating member at least partially overlaps with the second operating member when viewed from the front of the door, thereby covering at least a portion of the second operating member.

2. A vehicle door opening / closing operation device as described in claim 1, wherein the first operating member can be operated in a first operating direction operated by the user's door opening operation and in a second operating direction different from the first operating direction, the first operating member can be displaced by operation in the second operating direction so that the second operating member appears to the outside, and the second operating member is configured to be able to be operated by the user in the state where it appears to the outside.

3. A vehicle door opening and closing operation device as described in claim 2, wherein the first operating member includes an operated member operated by a user, and a switch unit that is pushed by the user's operation of the operated member to output the electrical signal, the operated member being configured longitudinally and including an operated member main body that covers part of the second operating member, a base end portion provided at one end in the longitudinal direction of the operated member main body and attached to the base, and a free end portion provided at the other end in the longitudinal direction of the operated member main body that is displaceable in at least the first operating direction, and the switch portion is positioned so as to be pushed when the free end portion is displaced in the first operating direction.

4. The vehicle door opening / closing operating device as described in claim 3, wherein the base end is attached to a base by a rotating part that supports the operated member rotatably relative to the base, the operated member further includes a stopper part that protrudes from the back surface of the operated member main body towards the base and prevents the operated member from rotating in the first operating direction, when the operated member is operated in the first operating direction, the operated member main body elastically deforms with the stopper part as a starting point, thereby displacing the free end in the first operating direction, and when the operated member is operated in the second operating direction, the operated member is displaceable by rotating around the rotating part as an axis.

5. A door opening / closing operation device for a vehicle as described in claim 4, wherein the second operating member includes: an input unit that accepts operation by a user; and a mechanical transmission unit having one end connected to the input unit and the other end connected to the door lock device, for transmitting the user's operation on the input unit to the door lock device; and the first operating member overlaps at least with the input unit when viewed from the front of the door.

6. A vehicle door opening / closing operation device as described in claim 1, wherein the first operating member is mechanically connected to the second operating member, and when the first operating member receives an operation in a second operating direction different from a first operating direction operated by the user's door opening operation, the operation in the second operating direction is transmitted from the first operating member to the second operating member, and the second operating member transmits the operation in the second operating direction to the door lock device.

7. A vehicle door opening / closing operating device as described in claim 3, wherein the first operating member is arranged adjacent to a main frame portion arranged around the window opening of the door and is adapted to form a frame surrounding the window opening together with the main frame portion.

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