Retractable door handle for vehicle

Abstract

This retractable door handle (1) for a vehicle is provided with a stopper (15) provided inside a door panel (3). In a case in which a handle part (4) rotates about a second axis (X2) together with an arm (7) while maintaining an angle with respect to the arm (7), when the angle causes a first end part (4A) and an inner peripheral edge (5a) of an opening (5) to contact each other, the stopper (15) comes into contact with the handle part (4) and restricts the handle part (4) from rotating together with the arm (7) about the second axis (X2). When the angle does not cause the first end part (4A) and the inner peripheral edge (5a) of the opening (5) to contact each other, the stopper (15) does not come into contact with the handle part (4), and does not restrict the handle part (4) from rotating together with the arm (7) about the second axis (X2).

Description

Retractable door handle for vehicle

[0001] The present invention relates to a retractable door handle for a vehicle.

[0002] In recent years, vehicles such as automobiles have been equipped with retractable door handle systems. These systems automatically unlock the door and protrude the handle from the door panel when a user approaches a key fob or operates a switch on the handle. The user can release the latch and open the door by pulling the protruding handle. Patent Document 1 (JP-A-2005-102626) discloses a door handle related to this system.

[0003] Special table number 2021-515857

[0004] In the event of an emergency, such as a power outage, the user may need to manually pull out the handle stored in the door panel. In this case, the handle is pulled out in a different position than when it is normally operated electrically, which could cause interference with the door panel and damage it.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a retractable door handle for a vehicle that can prevent damage due to interference with the door panel when the door handle is manually pulled out.

[0006] A retractable vehicle door handle according to one aspect of the present invention includes a handle portion, a first shaft, a second shaft, an arm, and a stopper. The handle portion is retracted within an opening in a door panel and is long in the longitudinal direction. The first shaft is provided at a first end on one side of the handle portion in the longitudinal direction. The second shaft is provided inside the door panel and on one side of the opening in the door panel in the longitudinal direction. The arm has one end rotatably attached to the first shaft and the other end rotatably attached to the second shaft. The stopper is provided inside the door panel. When the handle portion rotates together with the arm around the second shaft while maintaining an angle relative to the arm, and the angle is such that the first end contacts the inner peripheral edge of the opening, the stopper comes into contact with the handle portion and restricts the handle portion from rotating together with the arm around the second shaft. When the angle is such that the first end does not come into contact with the inner peripheral edge of the opening, the stopper does not come into contact with the handle portion and does not restrict the handle portion from rotating together with the arm around the second axis.

[0007] The retractable vehicle door handle can prevent damage caused by interference with the door panel when the door handle is manually pulled out.

[0008] FIG. 1 is a front view of a door equipped with a door handle according to an embodiment. FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view of the door handle taken along line A-A in FIG. 1, showing a state in which the handle portion is in a retracted position. FIG. 2B is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main portion of the door handle taken along the other longitudinal side in FIG. 2A. FIG. 2C is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main portion of the door handle taken along one longitudinal side in FIG. 2A. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the door handle taken along line A-A in FIG. 1, showing a state in which the handle portion is in a protruding position. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the door handle taken along line A-A in FIG. 1, showing a state in which the door handle has been rotated to an inclined position for latch release. FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view of the door handle taken along line A-A in FIG. 1, showing a state in which a first end of the handle portion has been manually pushed into the inside of the door panel. FIG. 5B is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main portion of the door handle taken along the other longitudinal side in FIG. 5A. FIG. 5C is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a first end of the handle portion and a first arm in FIG. 5A. Fig. 6A is a cross-sectional view of the door handle taken along line A-A in Fig. 1, showing a state in which a second end of the handle portion has been manually pulled outward from the door panel. Fig. 6B is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main portion on the other longitudinal side of the door handle in Fig. 6A. Fig. 7 is a partial perspective view showing a rib formed on the housing. Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view corresponding to Fig. 5C, showing a first arm and a first end of the handle portion according to a modified example.

[0009] Hereinafter, a retractable door handle 1 for a vehicle according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, components having the same functions as those already described will be assigned the same reference numerals and will not be described again.

[0010] As shown in Figures 1 and 2A, a door handle 1 is provided on a vehicle door 2. The exterior surface of the door 2 is made up of a door panel 3, which is an outer door panel. The door panel 3 has an opening 5 formed therein that allows a handle portion 4 of the door handle 1 to be stored therein. In the stored position, the handle portion 4 is stored within the opening 5 with its exterior surface, which is the decorative surface, exposed, and the exterior surface of the handle portion 4 is flush with the exterior surface of the door panel 3. The retractable door handle 1 is also called a flush handle.

[0011] The longitudinal direction L of the handle portion 4 is horizontal and parallel to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The door handle 1 may be disposed so that the longitudinal direction L of the handle portion 4 intersects with a horizontal plane or the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The longitudinal direction is the direction along the length of the article, i.e., the direction of the maximum outer dimension of the article. In this embodiment, the longitudinal direction L is also the direction along the length of the outer surface of the handle portion 4, i.e., the length of the opening 5.

[0012] The handle portion 4 is long in the longitudinal direction L, and as shown in Fig. 2A, has a grip portion 4C that is gripped by a user in the center of the longitudinal direction L. The handle portion 4 also has a first end portion 4A on one side of the grip portion 4C in the longitudinal direction, and a second end portion 4B on the other side of the grip portion 4C in the longitudinal direction. In this embodiment, the first end portion 4A is located forward of the grip portion 4C in the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle, and the second end portion 4B is located rearward of the grip portion 4C in the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle.

[0013] The door handle 1 includes a housing 6 that houses the handle portion 4, a first arm 7 that is an arm connected to the first end 4A, and a second arm 8 that is connected to the second end 4B. The housing 6 is provided inside the door panel 3 in the door thickness direction. More specifically, the housing 6 is fixed to the inner surface of the door panel 3 with the handle portion 4, first arm 7, second arm 8, etc. assembled to it.

[0014] One end of the first arm 7 is rotatably attached to a first axis X1 provided at the first end 4A. Therefore, the first arm 7 is rotatable around the first axis X1 relative to the handle portion 4. Meanwhile, the other end of the first arm 7 is rotatably attached to a second axis X2 provided on the housing 6. Therefore, the first arm 7 is rotatable around the second axis X2 relative to the housing 6.

[0015] An actuator (not shown) is disposed in the housing 6 on the opposite side of the handle portion 4 across the first arm 7. The actuator is driven, for example, by a motor, and presses a plate 7a provided at the other end of the first arm 7, causing the first arm 7 to rotate clockwise in FIG. 2A around the second axis X2.

[0016] The second axis X2 is parallel to the first axis X1. A first torsion coil spring 10 is attached to the second axis X2. The first torsion coil spring 10 biases the first arm 7 around the second axis X2 in a direction in which the first axis X1 moves from the outside to the inside of the door panel 3 (counterclockwise in FIG. 2A ). When the handle portion 4 is in the retracted position, the first arm 7 is biased by the first torsion coil spring 10 and held at a predetermined position within the housing 6.

[0017] One end of the second arm 8 is rotatably attached to a third axis X3 provided at the second end 4B via an elongated hole 8a formed at the one end and slidably moved in the length direction of the elongated hole 8a. Therefore, the second arm 8 is rotatable and slidable about the third axis X3 relative to the handle portion 4. Meanwhile, the other end of the second arm 8 is rotatably attached to a fourth axis X4 provided at the housing 6. Therefore, the second arm 8 is rotatable about the fourth axis X4 relative to the housing 6.

[0018] The fourth axis X4 is parallel to the third axis X3 and also to the first axis X1 and the second axis X2. When the handle portion 4 is in the retracted position, the third axis X3 is located at the end of the elongated hole 8a on the fourth axis X4 side, and the first axis X1 to the fourth axis X4 are located at the four vertices of a parallelogram. A second torsion coil spring 12 is attached to the fourth axis X4. The second torsion coil spring 12 biases the second arm 8 around the fourth axis X4 in a direction in which the third axis X3 moves from the outside to the inside of the door panel 3 (counterclockwise in FIG. 2A ). When the handle portion 4 is in the retracted position, the second arm 8 is biased by the second torsion coil spring 12 and held in a predetermined position within the housing 6.

[0019] As shown in Figures 2B and 7, the housing 6 is formed with a rib 15 serving as a stopper. The rib 15 protrudes from the inner surface of the housing 6 toward the second axis X2 and comes into contact with the housing contact portion 4b, which is the contact portion of the second end 4B, when the handle portion 4 is manually pulled out. More specifically, the rib 15 is formed on the inner surface of the housing 6 adjacent to the housing contact portion 4b and extends adjacent to a first rotation locus R1 and a second rotation locus R2, which will be described later. Note that the second arm 8 is not shown in Figure 2B.

[0020] Next, the normal electrical operation and latch release operation of the door handle 1 will be described with reference to Figures 3 and 4. Under normal circumstances, transmission and reception of signals with the key fob, unlocking of the door, and movement of the handle 4 from the retracted position to the extended position are all performed electrically. The electrical operation may be initiated simultaneously with the detection of the approach of the key fob, or may be initiated in response to the detection of the operation of a touch sensor or pressure-sensitive switch provided on the handle 4 or the like in addition to the detection of the approach of the key fob.

[0021] When the electric operation is initiated, the actuator presses the plate 7a, causing the first arm 7 to rotate clockwise in the figure around the second axis X2. As a result, the first arm 7 pushes the first end 4A of the handle portion 4 out of the opening 5 and to the outside of the door panel 3. This pushing force is transmitted to the second arm 8 via the grip portion 4C, the second end 4B of the handle portion 4, and the third axis X3 located at the end of the elongated hole 8a on the fourth axis X4 side, causing the second arm 8 to rotate clockwise in the figure around the fourth axis X4. As a result, the second arm 8 pushes the second end 4B of the handle portion 4 out of the opening 5 and to the outside of the door panel 3. During this time, the first arm 7 and the second arm 8 rotate at the same angle, and the shape of the rectangle with vertices at the first axis X1 to the fourth axis X4 remains a parallelogram. Therefore, the handle portion 4 moves from the retracted position to the extended position while maintaining its outer surface substantially parallel to the outer surface of the door panel 3. The movement of the handle portion 4 from the retracted position to the extended position is stopped when the first arm 7 abuts against the housing 6, as shown in Figure 3, for example.

[0022] When the user pulls the handle 4 in the extended position, the handle 4 rotates about the first axis X1, the third axis X3 slides to the end of the elongated hole 8a opposite the fourth axis X4, and the second arm 8 rotates clockwise in the figure about the fourth axis X4. As a result, the handle 4 is tilted relative to the door panel 3 as shown in Figure 4, and the latch is released. When the user releases the handle 4, the first arm 7 and the second arm 8 rotate counterclockwise in the figure about the second axis X2 and the fourth axis X4 due to the biasing forces of the torsion coil springs 10 and 12, respectively, and the handle 4 returns to the retracted position.

[0023] Next, a typical operation for manually pulling out the handle portion 4 of the door handle 1 in an emergency will be described with reference to Figures 5A to 6B. In an emergency, such as a power failure due to over-discharge of an auxiliary battery, the door will not be unlocked even if the key fob approaches, and the handle portion 4 will not move from the retracted position to the extended position. Therefore, the handle portion 4, which is in the retracted position, must be manually pulled out.

[0024] First, as shown in Fig. 5A , the user pushes a portion of the first end 4A of the handle portion 4 on one side of the first axis X1 in the longitudinal direction L, i.e., the portion on the front side in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, toward the inside of the door panel 3. At this time, the first arm 7 does not rotate because it is held in a predetermined position within the housing 6 by a component of the user's pushing force transmitted via the first axis X1 and the biasing force of the first torsion coil spring 10. The handle portion 4 rotates about the first axis X1 until the arm abutment portion 4a of the first end 4A abuts against the first arm 7. The arm abutment portion 4a is a portion of the first end 4A on one side of the first axis X1 in the longitudinal direction L and on the first arm 7 side.

[0025] The rotational force of the handle portion 4 due to the pushing operation is input to the second arm 8 from the inner peripheral surface of the elongated hole 8a via the third axis X3. As a result, the second arm 8 rotates clockwise in FIG. 5A around the fourth axis X4 against the biasing force of the second torsion coil spring 12. At this time, the third axis X3 moves from the end of the elongated hole 8a on the fourth axis X4 side toward the end opposite the fourth axis X4. In this way, due to the user's pushing operation, the handle portion 4 rotates clockwise in FIG. 5A around the first axis X1, and the second end 4B protrudes outward from the outer surface of the door panel 3.

[0026] Following the pushing operation, the user grasps the second end 4B protruding from the door panel 3 and further pulls out the handle portion 4. At this time, as shown in Fig. 6A , the handle portion 4 and the first arm 7 rotate together clockwise in the figure around the second axis X2 against the biasing forces of the torsion coil springs 10 and 12, while maintaining contact between the arm contact portion 4a and the first arm 7.

[0027] The user then grasps the grip portion 4C of the handle portion 4 and moves the entire handle portion 4 to the extended position. The user can then pull the handle portion 4 in the extended position and rotate it to the inclined position as shown in Figure 4, thereby releasing the latch of the door 2.

[0028] A key cylinder for a physical key may be provided in a location that becomes accessible by pulling out the handle portion 4. A user can unlock the door even in an emergency by accessing the key cylinder. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7 , an access hole 6 a for the key cylinder of the physical key is formed in the housing 6. When the handle portion 4 is in the position shown in FIG. 6A , a user can unlock the door 2 using the physical key and the key cylinder. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7 , the housing 6 has a plurality of fixing holes 6 b for fixing to the inner surface of the door panel 3.

[0029] Next, a configuration for preventing contact between the handle portion 4 and the door panel 3 when the handle portion 4 is manually pulled out will be described with reference to FIGS. 2A to 2C, 5B, and 6B.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 2C , the first end 4A of the handle portion 4 has a first end point P1 at a position where the distance from the first axis X1 is greatest. The inner peripheral edge 5a of the opening 5 has a second end point P2 at a position where the distance from the first end point P1 of the handle portion 4 in the storage position is smallest. The second end point P2 is located on the inner peripheral edge 5a at one end of the longitudinal direction L of the opening 5. The first end point P1 is located at a portion of the first end 4A that is closest to the inner peripheral edge 5a at one end of the longitudinal direction L of the opening 5 when the handle portion 4 is in the storage position. The first circle C1 is a circle centered on the first axis X1 and passing through the first end point P1. The second circle C2 is a circle centered on the second axis X2 and passing through the second end point P2. When the handle portion 4 is in the storage position, the first axis X1, the first end point P1, the second end point P2, and the second axis X2 are aligned in this order along the longitudinal direction L when viewed from the outside of the door panel 3.

[0031] During the pushing operation (see FIG. 5A ), the first end point P1 moves along the circumference of the first circle C1. Depending on the angle of the handle 4 relative to the first arm 7, the first end point P1 is located on the circumference of the second circle C2 or inside the second circle C2. During the pulling operation (see FIG. 6A ) after the pushing operation, the handle 4 and the first arm 7 rotate together around the second axis X2. At this time, the first end point P1 moves along the circumference of the second circle C2 or a circle parallel to the second circle C2. Here, the angle of the handle 4 relative to the first arm 7 is the rotation angle of the handle 4 relative to the first arm 7. The angle when the handle 4 is in the storage position is defined as a reference angle (0° rotation angle). Furthermore, the rotation angle is defined as positive when the first end point P1 approaches the first arm 7 (clockwise in the figure).

[0032] For ease of explanation, the straight line X passing through the first axis X1 and the first end point P1 when the handle unit 4 is in the retracted position is defined as the reference line for the "angle" of the handle unit 4 relative to the first arm 7. When the handle unit 4 rotates by an angle θ or more relative to the first arm 7, i.e., when the reference line rotates around the first axis by an angle θ or more, the first end point P1 is located on the circumference of the second circle C2 or inside the second circle C2. Therefore, when the handle unit 4 and the first arm 7 rotate around the second axis X2, the first end point P1 and the second end point P2 may come into contact with each other. Here, θ is a positive "angle" at which the distance between the first end point P1 and the second axis X2 is equal to the distance between the second end point P2 and the second axis X2, as shown in FIG. 2C . The magnitude of θ is equal to the magnitude of the central angle of the arc on the first circle C1 between the intersection of the first circle C1 and the second circle C2 and the first end point P1 when the handle portion 4 is in the storage position, as shown in Figure 2C.

[0033] In this embodiment, the second end 4B of the handle portion 4 has a housing contact portion 4b that comes into contact with a rib 15 formed on the housing 6 during the above-mentioned pulling operation. The housing contact portion 4b moves along a first rotational trajectory R1 as shown in FIG. 5B from a state in which the handle portion 4 is in the retracted position (see FIG. 2A ) until the first end 4A comes into contact with the first arm 7 during a pushing operation (see FIG. 5A ). The first rotational trajectory R1 does not overlap with the rib 15. Furthermore, while the housing contact portion 4b moves along the first rotational trajectory R1, the position of the first arm 7 relative to the housing 6 does not change. Therefore, the first rotational trajectory R1 is part of a circle centered on the first axis X1.

[0034] 5A, while moving along the first rotation locus R1, the housing contact portion 4b is always located inside the first axis X1 in the door thickness direction. That is, the housing contact portion 4b is located at a position farther from the inner surface of the door panel 3 than the first axis X1. In this embodiment, the central angle of the first rotation locus R1 is larger than the above-mentioned θ.

[0035] 6B, when the handle portion 4 is pulled out after the pushing operation, the housing contact portion 4b moves along a second rotation trajectory R2. The second rotation trajectory R2 overlaps with the rib 15. If the "angle" of the handle portion 4 relative to the first arm 7 does not change during this movement, the second rotation trajectory R2 is part of a circle centered on the second axis X2.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 2C , the central angle of the arc on the second circle C2 between the intersection of the first circle C1 and the second circle C2 and the second end point P2 is defined as α. Also, as shown in FIG. 6A , during a pull-out operation after the first end 4A contacts the first arm 7 due to a pushing operation, the rotation angle of the handle portion 4 and the first arm 7 about the second axis X2 until the housing contact portion 4b contacts the rib 15 is defined as β. In other words, the central angle of the arc on the second rotation trajectory R2 between the connection point between the second rotation trajectory R2 and the first rotation trajectory R1 (see FIG. 6B ) and the point where the second rotation trajectory R2 and the rib 15 overlap (see FIG. 6B ) is defined as β. The central angle α may be greater than the central angle β (α > β), as in the illustrated example.

[0037] 6A , while the housing contact portion 4 b moves on the arc of the second rotation locus R2 with the central angle β, the housing contact portion 4 b is always located inside the second axis X2 in the door thickness direction. In other words, while moving on the arc, the housing contact portion 4 b is located at a position farther from the inner surface of the door panel 3 than the second axis X2.

[0038] The effects of the door handle 1 according to the above embodiment will be described.

[0039] (1) The door handle 1 includes a handle portion 4, a first axis X1, a second axis X2, a first arm 7, and a rib 15 serving as a stopper. The handle portion 4 is housed within an opening 5 in a door panel 3 and is long in a longitudinal direction L. The first axis X1 is provided at a first end 4A on one side of the handle portion 4 in the longitudinal direction L. The second axis X2 is provided inside the door panel 3 and on one side of the opening 5 in the longitudinal direction L. One end of the first arm 7 is rotatably attached to the first axis X1, and the other end is rotatably attached to the second axis X2. The rib 15 is provided on the inside of the door panel 3.

[0040] When the handle portion 4 rotates around the second axis X2 together with the first arm 7 while maintaining the "angle" relative to the first arm 7, if the "angle" is an "angle" that causes contact between the first end 4A and the inner peripheral edge 5a of the opening 5, the rib 15 comes into contact with the handle portion 4 and restricts the rotation of the handle portion 4 around the second axis X2 together with the first arm 7. On the other hand, if the "angle" is an "angle" that does not cause contact between the first end 4A and the inner peripheral edge 5a of the opening 5, the rib 15 does not come into contact with the handle portion 4 and does not restrict the rotation of the handle portion 4 around the second axis X2 together with the first arm 7.

[0041] Therefore, according to the door handle 1, contact between the handle portion 4 and the rib 15 (see FIG. 6B ) can prevent contact between the first end 4A and the inner peripheral edge 5a when the handle portion 4 rotates around the second axis X2 together with the first arm 7. This makes it possible to smoothly manually operate the door handle 1 while preventing damage due to interference between the handle portion 4 and the door panel 3. Furthermore, by further reducing the gap between the outer periphery of the handle portion 4 and the inner peripheral edge 5a of the opening 5 when the handle portion 4 is in the retracted position, the aerodynamic performance and appearance of the vehicle body can be improved.

[0042] (2) In the door handle 1, the first end 4A of the handle portion 4 has a first end point P1 that is the maximum distance from the first axis X1. The inner peripheral edge 5a of the opening 5 has a second end point P2 that is the minimum distance from the first end point P1 of the handle portion 4 stored in the opening 5. The rib 15 is positioned so that when the handle portion 4 rotates around the second axis X2 together with the first arm 7 while maintaining an "angle" relative to the first arm 7 (see FIG. 6A ), the rib 15 does not contact the handle portion 4 when the "angle" is less than θ, and contacts the handle portion 4 when the "angle" is θ or greater. The "angle" is the rotation angle of the handle portion 4 relative to the first arm 7, with the angle when the handle portion 4 is stored in the opening 5 being used as a reference angle. The "angle" is defined as a positive value when the first end point P1 approaches the first arm 7 (clockwise rotation around the first axis X1 in FIG. 5A and other figures). Here, θ is a positive "angle" at which the distance between the first end point P1 and the second axis X2 becomes equal to the distance between the second end point P2 and the second axis X2, as shown in Fig. 2C. In other words, θ is a threshold value for determining whether or not contact occurs between the first end point P1 and the second end point P2.

[0043] Therefore, according to the door handle 1, contact between the first end 4A and the inner peripheral edge 5a can be more reliably prevented when the handle portion 4 rotates around the second axis X2 together with the first arm 7. This prevents damage due to interference between the handle portion 4 and the door panel 3, and allows for smoother manual operation of the door handle 1. In addition, the gap between the outer periphery of the handle portion 4 and the inner peripheral edge 5a of the opening 5 when the handle portion 4 is in the retracted position can be further reduced, thereby improving the aerodynamic performance and appearance of the vehicle body.

[0044] (2) The door handle 1 includes a housing 6. The housing 6 is provided inside the door panel 3 and houses the handle portion 4. The handle portion 4 has a housing contact portion 4b at a second end portion 4B on the other side in the longitudinal direction L, which is a contact portion with the rib 15. The rib 15 is a rib 15 that protrudes toward the second axis X2 from the inner surface of the housing 6 adjacent to the housing contact portion 4b.

[0045] According to the door handle 1, the housing contact portion 4b is provided on the second end 4B, which is located farther from the second axis X2 than the first end 4A and the grip portion 4C. Therefore, when the handle portion 4 rotates together with the first arm 7 around the second axis X2, the movement amount of the housing contact portion 4b per unit rotation angle is larger than when the housing contact portion 4b is provided on the first end 4A or the grip portion 4C. This makes it easier to adjust the contact start angle between the housing contact portion 4b and the rib 15 when the handle portion 4 rotates together with the first arm 7 around the second axis X2. This makes it easier to adjust the amount of protrusion of the second end 4B from the outer surface of the door panel 3 when the handle portion 4 is manually pulled out.

[0046] Furthermore, because the rib 15 serving as the stopper is a rib 15 that protrudes toward the second axis X2 from the inner surface of the housing 6 adjacent to the housing contact portion 4b, the above adjustment can be made even more easily. That is, for example, if the stopper were the entire side wall of the housing 6 adjacent to the housing contact portion 4b, it would be necessary to change the position or thickness of the side wall. However, with the rib 15, the above adjustment can be made simply by adjusting its height and length. For example, if the housing 6 is formed by resin injection molding, the depth and length of a groove formed in the mold can be adjusted.

[0047] (3) The rib 15 does not overlap with the first rotation locus R1 of the housing contact portion 4b when the handle portion 4 rotates around the first axis X1 from the state in which it is stored in the opening 5 until the first end 4A and the first arm 7 abut (see FIG. 5B ). That is, the rib 15 does not overlap with the first rotation locus R1 of the housing contact portion 4b, for example, when the handle portion 4 rotates from the state shown in FIG. 2A to the state shown in FIG. 5A . Furthermore, the rib 15 overlaps with the second rotation locus R2 of the housing contact portion 4b when the handle portion 4 rotates together with the first arm 7 around the second axis X2 while keeping the first end 4A abutting the first arm 7 (see FIG. 6B ). That is, the rib 15 overlaps with the second rotation locus R2 of the housing contact portion 4b, for example, when the handle portion 4 rotates from the state shown in FIG. 5A to the state shown in FIG. 6A . Therefore, the pulling operation of the handle portion 4 is restricted by contact between the rib 15 and the housing contact portion 4b, and contact between the first end portion 4A and the inner peripheral edge 5a can be more reliably prevented. Furthermore, because the rib 15 does not overlap with the first rotation locus R1, the amount of protrusion of the second end portion 4B from the outer surface of the door panel 3 after the pushing operation can be increased. This makes it possible to manually pull out the handle portion 4 more easily and smoothly.

[0048] (4) The central angle α of the arc on the second circle C2 from the intersection of the first circle C1 and the second circle C2 to the second end point P2 is larger than the central angle β of the arc on the second rotation locus R2 from the connection point of the second rotation locus R2 and the first rotation locus R1 to the point where the second rotation locus R2 overlaps with the rib 15. Therefore, according to the door handle 1, it is possible to more reliably bring the housing contact portion 4b into contact with the rib 15 before the first end point P1 and the second end point P2 come into contact with each other.

[0049] (5) As shown in FIG. 8 , a protrusion 7b may be provided on the first arm 7. The protrusion 7b abuts against the arm abutment portion 4a of the first end 4A to restrict rotation of the handle portion 4 around the first axis X1 in the positive direction (clockwise in the figure). This prevents the first end point P1 from entering an angle range equal to or greater than θ shown in FIG. 2C . This more reliably prevents contact between the first end 4A and the inner peripheral edge 5a when the handle portion 4 rotates together with the first arm 7 around the second axis X2.

[0050] The above-described embodiments and their modifications are merely examples described to facilitate understanding of the invention. The technical scope of the invention is not limited to the specific technical matters disclosed in the above-described embodiments, etc., but also includes various modifications, changes, alternative technologies, etc. that can be easily derived therefrom.

[0051] 1 Door handle, 3 Door panel, 4 Handle portion, 4A First end, 4B Second end, 4b Housing contact portion (contact portion), 5 Opening, 5a Inner peripheral edge, 6 Housing, 7 First arm (arm), 7b Protrusion, 15 Rib (stopper), L Longitudinal direction, P1 First end point, P2 Second end point, R1 First rotation trajectory, R2 Second rotation trajectory, X1 First axis, X2 Second axis

Claims

1. A retractable door handle for a vehicle, comprising: a handle portion that is long in the longitudinal direction and is retracted within an opening in a door panel; a first shaft provided at a first end portion on one side of the handle portion in the longitudinal direction; a second shaft provided inside the door panel and on one side of the opening in the longitudinal direction; an arm having one end rotatably attached to the first shaft and the other end rotatably attached to the second shaft; and a stopper provided on the inside of the door panel, wherein when the handle portion rotates around the second axis together with the arm while maintaining an angle relative to the arm, if the angle is an angle that causes the first end to come into contact with the inner periphery of the opening, the stopper comes into contact with the handle portion and restricts the rotation of the handle portion together with the arm around the second axis, and if the angle is an angle that does not cause the first end to come into contact with the inner periphery of the opening, the stopper does not come into contact with the handle portion and does not restrict the rotation of the handle portion together with the arm around the second axis.

2. A retractable door handle for a vehicle, comprising: a handle portion that is long in the longitudinal direction and is stored within an opening in a door panel; a first axis provided at a first end portion on one side of the handle portion in the longitudinal direction; a second axis provided inside the door panel and on one side of the opening in the longitudinal direction; an arm having one end rotatably attached to the first axis and the other end rotatably attached to the second axis; and a stopper provided on the inside of the door panel, wherein the first end portion of the handle portion has a first end point that is the greatest distance from the first axis, and an inner peripheral edge of the opening has a second end point that is the smallest distance from the first end point of the handle portion stored within the opening, and the stopper is positioned so that when the handle portion rotates around the second axis together with the arm while maintaining an angle relative to the arm, the stopper does not come into contact with the handle portion when the angle is less than θ, and comes into contact with the handle portion when the angle is θ or greater. However, the angle is the rotation angle of the handle portion relative to the arm, with the angle when the handle portion is stored in the opening as the reference angle, and the rotation in the direction in which the first end point approaches the arm is considered positive, and θ is a positive angle at which the distance between the first end point and the second axis is equal to the distance between the second end point and the second axis.

3. A retractable door handle as claimed in claim 1 or 2, comprising a housing provided on the inside of the door panel and accommodating the handle portion, the handle portion having a contact portion with the stopper at a second end on the other side in the longitudinal direction, and the stopper being a rib protruding from the inner surface of the housing adjacent to the contact portion towards the second axis.

4. A retractable door handle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein when the handle portion rotates around the first axis from a state stored within the opening until the first end and the arm abut, a first rotation locus of the contact portion of the handle portion with the stopper does not overlap with the stopper, and when the handle portion rotates around the second axis together with the arm while keeping the first end abutting against the arm, a second rotation locus of the contact portion overlaps with the stopper.

5. A retractable door handle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the arm has a protrusion that abuts against the first end and restricts rotation of the handle portion in the positive direction around the first axis.

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