阅读说明：本技术 车门的外把手装置 (Outer handle device of vehicle door ) 是由 斋藤靖浩 大山达也 于 2018-09-26 设计创作，主要内容包括：车门的外把手装置具备：基座(14),其从内侧安装于外面板(12)；操作把手(16),其配置在外面板的外侧,在从外面板的外侧进入外面板的内侧的支承臂部(19)上具有沿着摆动轴线(Sx)延伸的支轴(36)；以及支承部件(17),其安装于基座,从后方与支轴卡合,在操作把手的摆动过程中使支承臂部的前端与抵接承受面(48)抵接,并且约束支轴向外面板的移位。在基座上设置有限制部(52),该限制部(52)在操作把手摆动时与支承臂部接触从而限制操作把手从外面板向内侧远离的移位。由此,提供一种能够进一步可靠地防止操作把手的晃动的车门的外把手装置。(An outer handle device for a vehicle door is provided with: a base (14) attached to the outer panel (12) from the inside; an operating handle (16) which is arranged outside the outer panel and has a support shaft (36) extending along the swing axis (Sx) on a support arm (19) entering the inner side of the outer panel from the outer side of the outer panel; and a support member (17) which is mounted on the base, engages with the support shaft from the rear, and restrains the displacement of the support shaft toward the outer panel while bringing the front end of the support arm into contact with the contact receiving surface (48) during the swinging of the operating handle. A restricting portion (52) is provided on the base, and the restricting portion (52) contacts the support arm portion when the operating handle swings, thereby restricting the displacement of the operating handle away from the outer panel inward. Thus, the outer handle device of the vehicle door can prevent the shaking of the operation handle more reliably.)

1. An outside handle device for a vehicle door, comprising:

a base (14) that is attached to the outer panel (12) of the door (11) from the inside;

an operating handle (16) which is disposed outside the outer panel (12) and has a support shaft (36) extending along a swing axis (Sx) on a support arm (19) that enters the outer panel (12) from the outside of the outer panel (12); and

a support member (17) that is attached to the base (14), engages with the support arm (19) from behind, and restricts at least the displacement of the operating handle (16) in the vehicle front-rear direction,

the outer handle device of the vehicle door is characterized in that,

a restricting portion (52) is provided on the base (14), and when the operating handle (16) swings, the restricting portion (52) contacts the support arm portion (19) to restrict the displacement of the operating handle (16) away from the outer panel (12) inward.

2. The outside handle apparatus for vehicle door according to claim 1,

the regulating portion (52) is integrally formed on the base (14) so as to face the outer panel (12), and the regulating portion (52) is in contact with a regulating surface (36b) formed on the support shaft (36).

3. The outside handle apparatus for vehicle door according to claim 2,

the base (14) is provided with:

a pair of support side walls (25) which are arranged on both sides of the support member (17) and support the support member (17) so as to be swingable between a standby position and an assembly position;

a pair of front and rear connecting bodies (27a, 27b) which are arranged at intervals in the front-rear direction and connect the support side walls (25) to each other; and

and a reinforcing member (53) that connects the connecting members (27a, 27b) to each other and supports the restricting portion (52).

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an outer handle device for a vehicle door, comprising: a base mounted to an outer panel of a vehicle door from an inner side; an operating handle arranged outside the outer panel and having a support shaft extending along a swing axis on a support arm portion entering from the outside of the outer panel to the inside of the outer panel; and a support member which is attached to the base, engages with the support shaft of the operating handle from behind, and restricts displacement of the support shaft toward the outer panel while bringing the front end of the support arm into contact with the contact receiving portion during swinging of the operating handle.

Background

Patent document 1 discloses an outer handle device for a vehicle door, including: when the operation handle is operated so as to be separated outward from the outer panel, the support arm portion abuts against the fitting portion and the abutment receiving portion of the support member, thereby suppressing the rattling of the operation handle in the front-rear direction of the vehicle.

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

In the outer handle device described in patent document 1, when the operating handle is operated so as to be separated outward from the outer panel, if a force toward the inside of the outer panel acts on the support arm portion of the operating handle, the support arm portion is displaced inward of the outer panel, and as a result, a gap is generated between the front end of the support arm portion and the support member in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and there is a possibility that the operating handle may be swung.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an outer handle device for a vehicle door, which can more reliably prevent the operating handle from rattling.

Means for solving the problems

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an outside handle device for a vehicle door, comprising: a base mounted to an outer panel of a vehicle door from an inner side; an operating handle which is arranged outside the outer panel and has a support shaft extending along a swing axis on a support arm portion entering from the outside of the outer panel to the inside of the outer panel; and a support member that is attached to the base, engages with the support arm portion from behind, and restricts displacement of at least the operation handle in a vehicle front-rear direction, wherein the base is provided with a restriction portion that, when the operation handle is swung, comes into contact with the support arm portion to restrict displacement of the operation handle away from the outer panel inward.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, the regulating portion is integrally formed on the base so as to face the outer panel, and is in contact with a regulating surface formed on the support shaft.

According to a third aspect, in addition to the configuration of the second aspect, the base includes: a pair of support side walls disposed on both sides of the support member and supporting the support member to be swingable between a standby position and an assembly position; a pair of front and rear connecting bodies arranged at a distance in the front-rear direction and connecting the support side walls to each other; and a reinforcing member that connects the connecting members to each other and supports the restricting portion.

Effects of the invention

According to the first aspect, even when the support arm portion of the operating handle is subjected to a force toward the inside of the outer panel when the operating handle is operated so as to be spaced outward from the outer panel, the displacement of the support arm portion is supported by the restricting portion, and therefore, the operating handle can be reliably prevented from rattling.

According to the second aspect, since the regulating portion is formed integrally with the base, it is not necessary to add another member when providing the regulating portion, and an increase in the number of members can be avoided.

According to the third aspect, the support of the regulating portion is reinforced by the reinforcing body, and therefore the damage of the regulating portion is prevented.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing an external appearance of an external handle device according to an embodiment of the present invention. (first embodiment)

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view schematically showing the structure of the base of the outer handle device. (first embodiment)

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view schematically showing the structure of the support arm portion of the operating handle. (first embodiment)

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view schematically showing the structure of the support member. (first embodiment)

Fig. 5 is an enlarged horizontal cross-sectional view schematically showing a support arm portion coupled to a base through a support member. (first embodiment)

Fig. 6 is a conceptual diagram schematically illustrating the movement of the support member around the rotation axis. (first embodiment)

Fig. 7 is an enlarged partial side view of the base schematically showing the structure of the guide passage of the base. (first embodiment)

Fig. 8 is an enlarged horizontal cross-sectional view schematically showing the movement of the support arm portion with respect to the base and the support member when the operation handle is operated to the operation position, corresponding to fig. 5. (first embodiment)

Fig. 9 is an enlarged horizontal cross-sectional view schematically showing the support member at the standby position, corresponding to fig. 5. (first embodiment)

Description of the reference symbols

11: a vehicle door;

12: an outer panel;

13: an outer handle device;

14: a base;

16: an operating handle;

17: a support member;

19: a support arm portion;

25: a support sidewall;

36: a fulcrum;

36 b: a limiting surface;

48: abutting against the bearing surface;

52: a regulating section (regulating body);

53: a reinforcement body;

sx: swing axis (of the operating handle).

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the front-rear direction corresponds to the front-rear direction of the vehicle.

First embodiment

Fig. 1 schematically shows the appearance of an external handle device according to an embodiment of the present invention. An outer handle device 13 is attached to an outer panel 12 of a door 11, which is, for example, a side door of a passenger vehicle, and the outer handle device 13 includes: a base 14 attached to the outer panel 12 from the inside of the outer panel 12; an operation handle 16 which is disposed outside the outer panel 12 and extends in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and which is gripped by the hand of the operator, and which forms a space 15 for accommodating at least 4 fingers of the operator from the up-down direction between the operation handle and the outer surface of the outer panel 12; and a support member 17 attached to the base 14, connecting a distal end of the operation handle 16 to the base 14, and allowing the operation handle 16 to rotate relative to the base 14 about the swing axis Sx. The operating handle 16 includes: a handle cover 18 made of synthetic resin and decorated in the same manner as the outer panel 12, for example, so as to be integrated with the outer panel 12; and a handle main body 21, which is formed of synthetic resin, is housed inside the handle cover 18, extends in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and is connected to the base 14 by a support arm portion 19 at the front end, as shown in fig. 5.

As shown in fig. 1, the rear end of the handle body 21 penetrates the base 14 and protrudes into the outer panel 12. A stem 22 supported by the base 14 so as to be relatively rotatable is connected to the rear end of the handle body 21. A lever 23 connected to a door lock device, not shown, is connected to the lever 22, and a pulling force acts on the lever 23 in accordance with a swing operation of the operating handle 16. The operating handle 16 swings about a swing axis Sx between a non-operating position in contact with the outer surface of the outer panel 12 and an operating position away to the outside from the outer surface of the outer panel 12. When the operating handle 16 is swung outward to the operating position, the door lock device is released, and the door 11 is opened.

As shown in fig. 2, the base 14 includes a pair of support side walls 25 extending in parallel with each other at a predetermined interval (a housing space that sandwiches the support arm portion 19) in front of the space 15. A reference surface 26 is formed on each support side wall 25, the reference surface 26 is formed by a plane parallel to the swing axis Sx and extending at an equal distance from the handle cover 18, and the reference surface 26 is pressed against the inner surface of the outer panel 12. The outer panel 12 is sandwiched between the base 14, which is pressed against the inner surface of the outer panel 12 by the reference surface 26, and the handle cover 18, which is in contact with the outer surface of the outer panel 12 in the non-operating position.

A pair of front and rear coupling bodies 27a, 27b are provided at the front end of the base 14 in front of the reference surface 26, and the pair of front and rear coupling bodies 27a, 27b are arranged at a distance from each other in the front-rear direction and connect the support side walls 25 to each other at a position apart from the outer panel 12. An elastic wall 29 and a pair of front walls 28 are integrally joined to the connecting body 27a on the front side, the pair of front walls 28 respectively extend between the outer panel 12 and the connecting body 27a continuously from the front end of the support side wall 25 and at a distance from each other, and the elastic wall 29 is continuous from the connecting body 27a between the two front walls 28 and extends from the connecting body 27a toward the outer panel 12. Since each front wall 28 is coupled to the supporting side wall 25 in a posture perpendicular to the supporting side wall 25, the rigidity of the supporting side wall 25 is improved, preventing the supporting side wall 25 from falling. The elastic wall 29 can displace the open end (the end close to the outer panel 12) back and forth based on a predetermined force.

The support side wall 25 is formed with: a rotation hole 31 of a cylindrical space defining a rotation axis Rx parallel to the swing axis Sx of the operating handle 16 and having a central axis on the rotation axis Rx; and an engaging recess 32 that opens toward the outer panel 12 at a position spaced rearward from the pivot hole 31. An entrance path 33 is connected to the rotation hole 31, and the entrance path 33 is open to the outer panel 12 side and has a width smaller than the diameter of the rotation hole 31. The rear wall of the engagement recess 32 is formed by a cylindrical surface having a central axis on the rotation axis Rx. The support member 17 is disposed in a space between the pair of support side walls 25 in front of the reference surface 26.

The support arm 19 of the operating handle 16 is formed integrally with the handle main body 21, and the support arm 19 enters the inside of the outer panel 12 from the outside of the outer panel 12 and is bent forward inside the outer panel 12. The support arm portion 19 is disposed in a space sandwiched by the pair of support side walls 25. As shown in fig. 3, the support arm portion 19 includes: an L-shaped arm body 34 extending to the inside of the outer panel 12 and bent forward; a pair of walls 35 extending forward from the front end of the arm body 34 in parallel to each other at intervals along the swing axis Sx; and a support shaft 36 disposed at a distance from the distal end of the arm main body 34, extending between the wall bodies 35 along the swing axis Sx, and connecting the wall bodies 35 to each other. The wall body 35 is provided with: a contact surface 35a, which faces the outer panel 12 and is formed by a plane extending parallel to the swing axis Sx; and a pressing surface 35b formed at the distal end of the wall body 35 and formed by a partial cylindrical surface (a specific curved surface) having a central axis on the swing axis Sx. The support shaft 36 is formed with a flat surface 36a continuous from the contact surfaces 35a and connecting the contact surfaces 35a to each other.

As shown in fig. 2, the support member 17 includes: a rotation base 42 having rotation protrusions 41 on both sides thereof, which are rotatably supported in the rotation holes 31 of the support side walls 25 around the rotation axis Rx; a pair of leg portions 43 extending from the turning base portion 42 between the pair of rotating projections 41 in a manner away from the outer panel 12, as shown in fig. 5, positioned in abutment with the front wall 28 of the base 14 at the front surface 43 a; a main body portion 44 extending rearward from the turning base portion 42 in a direction perpendicular to the leg portion 43 about the rotation axis Rx; a bearing portion 45 extending from the rear end of the main body portion 44 so as to be spaced apart from the outer panel 12 and supporting the support shaft 36 via a bearing surface 45 a; and engaging projections 46 that project to both sides at the rear end of the main body portion 44 and are housed in the engaging recesses 32 of the base 14. As shown in fig. 4, the rotation protrusion 41 is partitioned by a pair of planes 41a parallel to the rotation axis Rx to be separated from each other by the width of the entrance path 33 connected to the rotation hole 31, and a partial cylindrical surface 41b having a central axis on the rotation axis Rx, expanding around the rotation axis Rx, and connecting the planes 41a to each other. When the flat surface 41a is positioned parallel to the moving path defined by the entrance path 33, the rotating protrusion 41 can enter and exit the inside and outside of the rotating hole 31 through the entrance path 33. The engaging projection 46 has a rearward abutment surface 46a extending along a virtual cylindrical surface having a central axis on the rotation axis Rx so as to be supported by the rear wall of the engaging recess 32.

The leg portions 43 of the support member 17 have positioning projections 47 projecting outward from outer surfaces facing outward from each other. Each positioning projection 47 is formed with an inclined surface 47a that approaches the outer surface of the leg 43 as it goes forward. The leg portions 43 have elasticity that enables the open ends of the leg portions 43 to deform so as to approach each other. Therefore, the positioning projection 47 can move away from or close to a virtual plane perpendicular to the rotation axis Rx in the axial direction of the rotation axis Rx according to the external force acting on the foot 43. On the other hand, the leg portion 43 has a rectangular cross-sectional shape elongated in the front-rear direction perpendicular to the planar front surface 43a, and has high rigidity in the circumferential direction around the rotation axis Rx.

As shown in fig. 5, the rear surface of the leg portion 43 has an abutment receiving surface 48 that receives the pressing surface 35b of the support arm portion 19. When the operating handle 16 is swung about the swing axis Sx, the pressing surface 35b of the support arm portion 19 is continuously in contact with the abutment receiving surface 48 of the leg portion 43. As described above, the tip of the support arm 19 abuts against the abutment receiving surface 48 of the support member 17, and the support arm 19 is sandwiched between the abutment receiving surface 48 and the bearing surface 45a, whereby the operating handle 16 can be prevented from being swung in the front-rear direction. The bearing 45 engages with the support shaft 36 formed at the front end of the support arm 19 from behind, and regulates displacement of the support shaft 36 in the front-rear direction. Even if an external force acts on the operating handle 16 in the rearward direction, the rotation projection 41 is supported by the rear wall of the rotation hole 31 via the partial cylindrical surface 41b, and the engagement projection 46 is supported by the rear wall of the engagement recess 32 via the abutment surface 46a, so that the rearward displacement of the support member 17 can be reliably restricted.

The main body portion 44 of the support member 17 is provided with a bearing surface 49, and the bearing surface 49 faces inward with respect to the outer panel 12 and receives the contact surface 35a of the support arm portion 19. The bearing surface 49 covers the wall 35 of the support arm 19 from the outer panel 12 side, and restricts displacement of the support arm 19 toward the outer panel 12. The swing axis Sx of the operating handle 16 is defined by the movements of the bearing portion 45 of the support member 17 and the bearing surface 49 of the body portion 44.

As shown in fig. 4, a posture holding projection 51 is provided on the rotation base 42, and the posture holding projection 51 is formed integrally with the rotation base 42 and projects forward from an outer surface of the rotation base 42. As described later, when the support member 17 rotates about the rotation axis Rx with respect to the base 14, the posture maintaining protrusion 51 comes into contact with the elastic wall 29 of the base 14. When the elastic wall 29 is maintained in the original shape, the tip end of the elastic wall 29 is positioned on the track of the posture-retaining projection 51, and the rotation of the support member 17 is restricted in accordance with the contact of the elastic wall 29 with the posture-retaining projection 51. On the other hand, when an external force of a degree causing elastic deformation of the elastic wall 29 acts on the support member 17, the posture-retaining projection 51 pushes away the elastic wall 29 from its orbit, and the support member 17 can rotate about the rotation axis Rx regardless of the contact between the elastic wall 29 and the posture-retaining projection 51.

As shown in fig. 5, the base 14 has a regulating body 52, and the regulating body 52 is integrally formed on the base 14 so as to face the outer panel 12, and contacts a regulating surface 36b formed on the support shaft 36. As described later, when the operating handle 16 is swung, the regulating body 52 comes into contact with the regulating surface 36b of the support arm portion 19 to regulate the displacement of the operating handle 16 inward away from the outer panel 12. The restricting body 52 is integrally formed with and supported by the reinforcing body 53 connecting the front and rear connecting bodies 27a, 27 b.

As shown in fig. 6, a guide path 54 is formed on the base 14, and the guide path 54 guides the movement of the positioning protrusion 47 along a movement path that surrounds the rotation axis Rx of the support member 17 and is defined coaxially with the rotation axis Rx. The positioning projection 47 is guided along the guide path 54 to an advanced position PF established when the rotary projection 41 enters the turning hole 31, a standby position PS established immediately after the posture-retaining projection 51 passes the tip of the elastic wall 29 based on the elastic deformation of the elastic wall 29, and an assembly position PL established when the support member 17 holds the support shaft 36 of the operating handle 16 at a predetermined position.

As shown in fig. 7, the guide path 54 has a three-dimensional shape in the axial direction of the rotation axis Rx. That is, the inclined portion 55 is provided at the guide path 54 so that the positioning projection 47 is restricted from being displaced toward the assembly position PL at the standby position PS. Likewise, a vertical wall 56 is provided at the guide path 54 so that the restraint positioning projection 47 is displaced from the assembly position PL to the standby position PS or the entry position PF. The inclined portion 55 and the vertical wall 56 are formed as projecting pieces 57 that project from the inner wall surfaces of the support side walls 25 facing each other. Therefore, the inclined portion 55 is formed as a flat surface that is distant from the inner wall surface of the support side wall 25 as it goes forward. The vertical wall 56 is formed as a flat surface standing upright from the inner wall surface of the support side wall 25, facing the rear surface of the front wall 28. The base 14 defines an opening 58 between each support sidewall 25 and the reinforcement 53, which allows access to the leg 43 of the support member 17.

Next, the operation of the outer handle device 13 of the present embodiment will be described. As shown in fig. 1, when the operating handle 16 is held by the operator's hand and operated away from the outer panel 12, the operating handle 16 swings about the swing axis Sx to an operating position, the door lock device is unlocked, and the vehicle door 11 is opened.

As shown in fig. 8, even if the operating handle 16 swings about the swing axis Sx, the pressing surface 35b of the operating handle 16 maintains contact with the abutment receiving surface 48 of the support member 17, the bearing portion 45 of the support member 17 maintains contact with the support shaft 36 from behind, the contact surface 35a and the flat surface 36a of the operating handle 16 maintain contact with the bearing surface 49 of the support member 17, and the regulating body 52 of the base 14 maintains contact with the regulating surface 36b of the operating handle 16. Therefore, the forward and backward movement of the operating handle 16 is restricted by the contact receiving surface 48 of the support member 17 and the bearing 45, the displacement of the support shaft 36 toward the outer panel 12 is restricted by the support member 17, and the displacement of the support shaft 36 away from the outer panel 12 to the inside is restricted by the base 14. In this way, even if a force toward the inside of the outer panel 12 acts on the support arm 19 of the operating handle 16 when the operating handle 16 is operated so as to be separated from the outer panel 12 to the outside, the displacement of the support arm 19 is supported by the stopper 52, and therefore, the operating handle 16 can be reliably prevented from rattling.

At this time, the regulating body 52 is integrally formed on the base 14 so as to face the outer panel 12, and contacts the regulating surface 36b formed on the support shaft 36. Since the regulating body 52 is formed integrally with the base 14 in this way, it is not necessary to add another member when providing the regulating body 52, and an increase in the number of members can be avoided.

In the outer handle device 13, the base 14 includes: a pair of support side walls 25 arranged on both sides of the support member 17 and supporting the support member 17 to be swingable between a standby position and an assembly position; a pair of front and rear connecting bodies 27a, 27b disposed at a distance in the front-rear direction and connecting the support side walls 25 to each other; and a reinforcing member 53 that connects the connecting members 27a and 27b to each other and supports the restricting member 52. Thus, the support of the regulating body 52 is reinforced by the reinforcing body 53, and therefore the regulating body 52 is prevented from being damaged.

Next, an assembling method of the outer handle device 13 will be described. The outer handle device 13 is assembled to the outer panel 12 of the vehicle door 11. In assembly, the base 14 is mounted to the outer panel 12 from the inside of the outer panel 12. Next, the operation knob 16 is coupled to the base 14 from the outside of the outer panel 12. When connected, the support arm 19 of the operating handle 16 is inserted into the space sandwiched by the support side walls 25 through the opening of the outer panel 12. At this time, the support member 17 is temporarily attached to the base 14 in advance. In this temporary mounting, as shown in fig. 9, the positioning projection 47 of the support member 17 is located at the standby position about the rotation axis Rx. The inclined surface 47a of the positioning projection 47 is in contact with the inclined portion 55 of the guide path 54, and therefore displacement of the positioning projection 47 toward the assembly position PL is restricted. As a result, the rotation of the support member 17 in the first direction FD about the rotation axis Rx is restricted. On the other hand, since the posture-retaining projection 51 is in contact with the elastic wall 29 from the outer panel 12 side, the displacement of the positioning projection 47 toward the entering position PF is restrained. As a result, the rotation of the support member 17 in the second direction SD opposite to the first direction FD about the rotation axis Rx is restricted. In this way, the support member 17 is held in a specific attitude on the base 14 about the rotation axis Rx.

When the support arm portion 19 of the operating handle 16 advances on the base 14, the pressing surface 35b of the support arm portion 19 abuts against the abutment receiving surface 48 of the support member 17. When an external force is applied to the operating handle 16 further in the forward direction, the positioning projection 47 rises at the inclined portion 55, causing elastic deformation of the leg portion 43, allowing the support member 17 to swing about the rotation axis Rx in the first direction FD. When the front surface of the foot 43 abuts against the front wall 28 of the base 14, the positioning projection 47 reaches the assembly position PL. The bearing portion 45 of the support member 17 covers the support shaft 36 supporting the arm portion 19 from the rear. The vertical wall 56 of the projecting piece 57 is in contact with the rear end of the positioning projection 47, so that the rotation of the support member 17 about the rotation axis Rx in the second direction SD is prevented. Thus, the support member 17 is attached to the base 14.