Abstract:
A vehicle door handle device whereby a door is kept in a locked state by a locking device even if excessive external force is applied to an operation handle. A vehicle door handle device includes a handle base with which an operation handle and a cable are integrated. The handle base has a first portion including a securing part fixed to a door panel, and a second portion including a handle attachment part and a cable fixing part. The handle base further has a weak part between the first portion and the second portion, the weak part being designed to have lower rupture strength than these portions.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a vehicle door handle device and, more particularly, to an improved door handle device in which the locked state of a vehicle door is maintained by a locking device. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    A vehicle door handle device is used to operate a locking device to unlock a door from a vehicle body, and is attached to a door panel. There are two kinds of such devices: an inside door handle device and an outer side door handle device. In an inside door handle device, the door is opened and closed by operating an operation handle in the passenger compartment. In an outer side door handle device, the door is opened and closed by operating an operation handle on the vehicle exterior. In either device, operative force is transmitted to the locking device by a cable when the operation handle is pulled. As a result, the locked state of the door maintained by the locking device is released. 
         [0003]    When the vehicle undergoes a side surface collision, an excessive amount of external force accompanying the collision may act on the door or the operation handle. As a result, the cable may be pulled by the operating handle. When the operating handle is not being operated manually, it is preferred that the locked state of the door is capable of being maintained by the locking device. To accomplish this, it is preferable to ensure that the cable is not pulled by the displaced operating handle. Thus, a structure for attaching a door handle device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-176478 (JP 2004-176478 A), for example, is known as a technique for preventing the cable from being pulled. 
         [0004]    The vehicle door handle device attachment structure disclosed in JP 2004-176478 A has a structure whereby an inside door handle device is attached to a door panel and a door trim (door lining). Specifically, the inside door handle device has a structure whereby a handle base consisting of an operating handle and a cable is attached to the door panel and the door trim. 
         [0005]    Usually, when an excessive amount of external force acts on the door panel from the exterior during a vehicle side surface collision, the door panel deforms toward the passenger compartment. According to the attachment structure disclosed in JP 2004-176478 A, the handle base splits from the door trim when the door trim peels away from the deformed door panel. Since the handle base is not displaced even if the door trim deforms, the operation handle does not pull on the cable. As a result, the locked state of the door is maintained by the locking device. 
         [0006]    However, in the prior art described above, certain objects (e.g., a child seat mounted on the seat) might be placed in the passenger compartment in a position facing the door. The door panel or operation handle that deforms into the passenger compartment by the excessive external force could forcefully collide with the object in the passenger compartment. For example, when the operation handle forcefully hits the object in the passenger compartment, the operation handle might be twisted or displaced relative to the handle base in some other manner, giving rise to a problem wherein the cable is pulled by the displaced operation handle. The same is true for an outer side door handle device. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle door handle device whereby the locked state of the door can be maintained by the locking device even when an excessive external force acts on the operation handle 
         [0008]    According to the present invention, there is provided a vehicle door handle device adapted to be attached to a door panel for operating a locking device to unlock a door from a vehicle body, which device comprises: an operation handle for operating the locking device to perform an unlocking action; a cable for transmitting an operative force of the operation handle to the locking device; and a handle base for integrating the operation handle and the cable, wherein the handle base comprises: a securing part for securing the handle base to the door panel; a handle attachment part for attaching the operation handle; and a cable support part for supporting the cable, and wherein the handle base further includes a weak part formed between a first portion having the securing part and a second portion having the handle attachment part and the cable support part, the weak part being designed to have lower rupture strength than the first portion and the second portion. 
         [0009]    In the present invention, in cases in which excessive external force acts on the operation handle when the vehicle undergoes a side surface collision, for example, while the door is locked by the locking device, the external force acts on the second portion from the operation handle via the handle attachment part. The weak part formed between the first portion and the second portion is ruptured by the excessive external force. The second portion having the handle attachment part and the cable support part is divided from the first portion and displaced along with the rupturing of the weak part. The operation handle and the cable are also divided from the first portion and displaced together with the second portion. Therefore, the operation handle is not made to pull on the cable by the excessive external force. Consequently, the locked state of the door can be reliably maintained by the locking device. 
         [0010]    Preferably, the weak part comprises a groove provided in such a manner as to divide the first portion and the second portion. 
         [0011]    Desirably, the handle base has an intersecting groove formed so as to intersect with the groove, the intersecting groove being designed to have lower rupture strength than the first and second portions. 
         [0012]    In a preferred form, at least one of the first portion and the second portion includes a through-hole formed therein, and one end of the intersecting groove is positioned in or proximately to the through-hole. 
         [0013]    In a desired form, the door panel has a retraction recess in a position that faces the handle attachment part as the handle base is fixed, the retraction recess being recessed away from the handle attachment part. 
         [0014]    It is preferred that the through-hole be formed in the second portion, and the operation handle be attached to the handle attachment part in a state of having been passed through the through-hole. 
         [0015]    The handle base may have a decorative cover for covering the handle base from a side facing a passenger compartment. The decorative cover may be designed to be interlocked in the through-hole. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is a side view illustrating a vehicular door handle device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing a door with the door handle device of  FIG. 1  attached thereto; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a view of the door as seen in the direction of arrow  3  of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a front view of the door handle device of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a rear view of the door handle device of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view similar to  FIG. 6 , showing the door handle device of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  10 - 10  of  FIG. 9 ; and 
           [0027]      FIG. 11  is a schematic view showing a mechanism whereby the locked state is maintained under external force acting on the door handle device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0028]    A vehicle handle device  11  according to the present embodiment, shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , is used in a vehicle  12  and can be operated from inside a door (rear right door  13 ) to open the door  13 . The vehicle handle device is attached to a door panel  16  of the rear right door  13  supported on a vehicle body  14 . By pulling an operation handle  17 , the door is released from locking with the vehicle body  14 . 
         [0029]    The vehicle  12  comprises a passenger compartment  21 , an underbody  22  constituting the floor of the passenger compartment  21 , a rear seat  23  fixed to the underbody  22 , left and right side bodies  24 ,  24  constituting the side walls of the passenger compartment  21 , the rear right door  13  attached in an openable and closable manner to the right side body  24 , and a door opening/closing device  25  that includes the door handle device  11 . 
         [0030]    A door handle device  11  attached to a left rear door (similar to the rear right door  13 ) not shown in the drawings is identical to the handle device  11  of the rear right door  13 . 
         [0031]    The rear right door  13  comprises an outer panel  27  disposed toward the outside of the vehicle  12  (in the direction of the arrow a 1 ) shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , an inner panel  28  attached to the outer panel  27  toward the inside of the vehicle  12  (in the direction of the arrow a 2 ), a resinous interior member  31  ( FIG. 4 ) attached to the front surface of the inner panel  28  (the surface facing into the passenger compartment  21 ), and a rear door opening/closing device  32  included in the door opening/closing device  25 . 
         [0032]    The rear door opening/closing device  32  comprises an outer side door handle device (not shown) provided to the outer panel  27  of the rear right door  13  and operated from the vehicle exterior, the door handle device (inside door handle device)  11  provided to the inner panel  28  of the rear right door  13 , and a locking device  35  linked to the door handle device  11  by an open cable  33  and a locking cable  34  and also linked to the outer side door handle device, as shown in  FIGS. 1 through 4 . 
         [0033]    The locking device  35  has an existing configuration, having a lock mechanism  36  fixed to the inner panel  28  and a striker  37  made to lock with the lock mechanism  36  and fixed to the right side body, wherein the locking device  35  locks when the locking cable  34  of the door handle device  11  is pushed (in the direction of the arrow a 3  in  FIG. 1 ) and unlocks when the locking cable  34  is pulled, and the lock is released when the open cable  33  of the door handle device  11  is pulled (in the direction of the arrow a 4  in  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0034]    The door handle device  11  comprises a handle base  41  attached to the inner panel  28 , the operation handle  17  attached to the handle base  41  to be capable of swinging (in the direction of the arrow a 5 ) via a fulcrum shaft  42  ( FIG. 8 ), a return spring  43  for returning the operation handle  17  to its original position B, a locking operation part  45  attached to the handle base  41  to be capable of swinging (in the direction of the arrow a 6  in  FIG. 2 ) via fulcrum bosses  44  (see  FIGS. 7 and 9 ), and a decorative cover  46  ( FIG. 2 ) for covering the handle base  41  from the side facing the passenger compartment  21 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 through 9 . 
         [0035]    Formed in the inner panel  28  are a positioning hole  47  for positioning the handle base  41  of the door handle device  11  in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a base-fastening hole  48  for fastening the handle base  41  in proximity to the positioning hole  47 , and an escape recess  52  formed in a range facing a cable-interlocking end  51  of the operation handle  17 . 
         [0036]    In the handle base  41 , a box-shaped base main body  54  is formed, a positioning convexity  56  for fitting into the previously described positioning hole  47  of the inner panel  28  is formed in a bottom part  55  of the base main body  54 , the positioning convexity  56  being disposed as protruding toward the vehicle exterior as seen from the passenger compartment  21 ; a first fastening hole  57  and second fastening hole  58  are opened in the bottom part  55  in proximity to the positioning convexity  56 , a first interlocking hole  62  for interlocking with the decorative cover  46  is opened in the bottom part  55  and an upper angle part  61  in proximity to the second fastening hole  58 , a second interlocking hole  64  for interlocking with the decorative cover  46  is opened in the bottom part  55  and a lower angle part  63  in a position linearly distanced from the first interlocking hole  62  and below the second fastening hole  58 , and a third interlocking hole  65  for interlocking with the decorative cover  46  is opened in the bottom part  55  and the lower angle part  63  in a position linearly separated from the second interlocking hole  64  and in proximity to the first fastening hole  57 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 through 9 . 
         [0037]    In the handle base  41 , an opening  67  is formed in the bottom part  55  a predetermined distance toward the locking device  35  from the first interlocking hole  62  and the second interlocking hole  64  shown in  FIGS. 6 through 10 , the operation handle  17  and the locking operation part  45  are passed through the opening  67 , a center fulcrum support part  68  supporting one end of the fulcrum shaft  42  and provided with one of the fulcrum bosses  44  is formed in the center of the opening  67 , a cable-fixed part  71  is formed at one end of the base main body  54  continuous with the opening  67 , the a cable clamp  72  is attached to the cable-fixed part  71 , a weak part  74  (see  FIG. 6 ) is formed on the back of the bottom part  55 , and a fixed remnant  75  and handle integrating/separating part  76  are provided, their border being the weak part  74  or the vicinity of the weak part  74 . The numerical symbol  77  denotes a fitting part for fitting with and holding the other end of the fulcrum shaft  42 . 
         [0038]    The phrase “the back of the bottom part  55 ” refers to the side opposite the surface of the bottom part  55  that faces the passenger compartment  21 . 
         [0039]    The weak part  74  is a groove formed in the bottom part  55 , and is composed of a first groove  81 , a second groove  82 , a third groove  83 , and a fourth groove  84 . The first groove  81  is formed up to the first interlocking hole  62  from a first edge  86  of the opening  67  adjacent to the center fulcrum support part  68 . The second groove  82  is formed up to the first interlocking hole  62  from a second edge  87  of the opening  67  continuous with the first edge  86 . The third groove  83  is formed from the longitudinal center of the second groove  82  up to the second interlocking hole  64 , and intersects with the longitudinal center of the first groove  81 . The fourth groove  84  is formed from the second interlocking hole  64  up to the third interlocking hole  65 . 
         [0040]    The groove (weak part  74 ) has a U shape in cross section, but may also have a shape other than a U. For example, the groove can have a V shape. 
         [0041]    In one example of the weak part  74 , the third groove  83  as well as the second interlocking hole  64  or the third interlocking hole  65  rupture under a desired load (external force), whereby the handle base  41  splits and the handle integrating/separating part  76  is formed in a state of holding the operation handle  17 . 
         [0042]    The operation handle  17  is composed of a handle operating part  91  operated (in the direction of the arrow a 5 ) by a vehicle occupant in the passenger compartment  21 , a fulcrum part  92  into which the fulcrum shaft  42  rotatably fits, and a cable-interlocking end  51  which interlocks with the open cable  33 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0043]    In the handle integrating/separating part  76 , the center fulcrum support part  68  of the handle base  41 , the cable-fixed part  71 , the fulcrum shaft  42 , the operation handle  17  supported by the fulcrum shaft  42 , and the locking operation part  45  are not separated from the split in the handle base  41 , but constitute a single cluster. 
         [0044]    Thus, in order to release the locking device  35  locking the rear right door  13  to the vehicle body  14 , the door handle device  11  has the operation handle  17  for releasing the locking device  35 , the operation handle  17  being attached to the door panel (the inner panel  28 ) in the rear right door  13 ; the open cable  33  for transmitting operative force (in the direction of the arrow a 5  in  FIG. 8 ) of the operation handle  17  to the locking device  35 , and the handle base  41  with which the operation handle  17  and the open cable  33  are integrated. 
         [0045]    The handle base  41  has a securing part  94  (including the first fastening hole  57  and the second fastening hole  58 ) for securing the handle base  41  to the inner panel  28 , a handle attachment part  95  (including the center fulcrum support part  68  and the rear frame  77 ) for attaching the operation handle  17 , and the cable-fixed part  71 , which is a cable support part for supporting the open cable  33 . The weak part  74  is formed on the handle base  41  between the fixed remnant  75  located in a first portion having the securing part  94 , and the handle integrating/separating part  76  as a second portion having the handle attachment part  95  and the cable support part (the cable-fixed part  71 ). The weak part  74  is designed to have lower rupture strength than the first portion (the fixed remnant  75 ) and the second portion (the handle integrating/separating part  76 ). 
         [0046]    The weak part  74  is configured from a groove (the third groove  83 ) positioned so as to divide the first portion (the fixed remnant  75 ) and the second portion (the handle integrating/separating part  76 ). 
         [0047]    The handle base  41  has intersecting grooves (the first groove  81 , the second groove  82 , and the fourth groove  84 ) formed so as to intersect with the third groove  83 . The intersecting grooves (the first groove  81 , the second groove  82 , and the fourth groove  84 ) are designed to have lower rupture strength than the first portion (the fixed remnant  75 ) and the second portion (the handle integrating/separating part  76 ). 
         [0048]    A plurality of first through-holes (the first interlocking hole  62 , the second interlocking hole  64 , and the third interlocking hole  65 ) is formed in the first portion (the fixed remnant  75 ), a second through-hole (the opening  67 ) is formed in the second portion (the handle integrating/separating part  76 ), and the intersecting grooves (the first groove  81 , the second groove  82 , and the fourth groove  84 ) extend up to the through holes (the third interlocking hole  65  through to the first interlocking hole  62  and the opening  67 ). 
         [0049]    It is possible to form through holes only in at least one of the first portion (fixed remnant  75 ) and the second portion (the handle integrating/separating part  76 ). For example, the second through-hole (the opening  67 ) is formed only in the second portion (the handle integrating/separating part  76 ), and a plurality of first through-holes (the first, second, and third interlocking holes  62 ,  64 ,  65 ) is not formed in the first portion (the fixed remnant  75 ). Under these conditions, the intersecting grooves (the first groove  81 , the second groove  82 , and the fourth groove  84 ) extend from the second through hole (the opening  67 ) up at an angle in the bottom part  55 . 
         [0050]    The intersecting grooves (the first groove  81 , the second groove  82 , and the fourth groove  84 ) can also extend from the angle in the bottom part  55  up to the vicinity of the through-holes (the third, second, and first interlocking holes  65 ,  64 ,  62 , and the opening  67 ). 
         [0051]    In a handle device attachment structure  96  ( FIG. 1 ) whereby the door handle device  11  is attached to the door panel (the inner panel  28 ), the inner panel  28  has a retraction recess (the escape recess  52  in  FIG. 4 ) at a position that faces the handle attachment part  95  ( FIG. 4 ) when the handle base  41  is fixed. This retraction recess  52  is recessed away from the handle attachment part  95  (in the direction of the arrow a 1  in  FIG. 4 ) in the inner panel  28 . 
         [0052]    Next, the action of the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 through 11 . 
         [0053]    In a vehicle  12  in which a child seat  97  is secured to the rear seat  23  as shown in  FIG. 1 , when external force from another vehicle acts on the side surface of the vehicle  12  as indicated by the arrow b 1  ( FIG. 11 ), the child seat  97  and the door handle device  11  (inside door handle device) of the rear right door  13  shown in  FIG. 11  might interfere with each other as indicated by the arrow b 2 , damaging the door handle device  11 . 
         [0054]    At such a time, the door handle device  11  (inside door handle device) ruptures in the weak part  74 , whereby the second portion (handle integrating/separating part  76 ) having the handle attachment part  95  and the cable support part (cable-fixed part  71 ) can be divided and displaced relative to the first portion (the fixed remnant  75 ) as indicated by the arrow b 3 . As a result, there is no change in the distance E from the cable-interlocking end  51  of the operation handle  17  to the end  98  of the open cable  33  fixed to the cable-fixed part  71 . Therefore, the open cable  33  is pulled (in the direction of the arrow a 4 ), and the locking device  35  can be prevented from being operated in the direction of releasing the lock. 
         [0055]    The vehicle handle device of the present invention is disposed on the passenger compartment side of a door in the embodiment, but can also be used in the outer side of the door. 
         [0056]    The locking operation part  45  is rotatably disposed adjacent to the operation handle  17 , but may also be disposed at a distance from the operation handle  17 , and may be configured to move linearly without rotating. 
         [0057]    The vehicle handle device of the present invention is suitable for a door handle device operated from inside the passenger compartment. 
         [0058]    Obviously, various minor changes and modifications of the present invention are possible in light of the above teaching. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.