Abstract:
A vehicle door handle device ( 20 ) is attached to a door panel of a vehicle door and a lining covering the cabin-interior side of the door panel. The vehicle door handle device ( 20 ) has a swing shaft ( 41 ) extending to the top and bottom of a base member ( 30 ), and a swingable handle part ( 42 ) attached to the swing shaft ( 41 ). Formed in the peripheral edge of the base member ( 30 ) are a panel attachment part ( 31 - 33 ) attached to the door panel ( 11 ), and a lining attachment part ( 34 - 36 ) attached to the lining ( 12 ). The panel attachment part ( 31 - 33 ) is configured to be capable of moving relative to the door panel ( 11 ) within a predetermined range, and the lining attachment part ( 34 - 36 ) is attached to the lining ( 12 ) via an elastic clip ( 74 ). The clip ( 74 ) urges the base member ( 30 ) toward the lining ( 12 ).

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to an attaching or mounting structure for a vehicle door handle device that is to be mounted to both a door panel and a lining for an operation to open and close the vehicle door. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0002]    In many vehicles, a vehicle door handle device is attached or mounted to an inner side of a door facing a passenger compartment. An example of a structure for mounting such a vehicle door handle device (i.e., a mounting structure for vehicle door handle device) is disclosed in Patent Literature 1. 
         [0003]    The vehicle door handle device disclosed in Patent Literature 1 is fixed by a base member as a body of the vehicle door handle device being sandwiched between a door panel and a lining and by these door panel and lining being joined together by means of bolts and nuts. 
         [0004]    To mount such a vehicle door handle device, first of all, the base member is accurately positioned relative to a mounting section of the door panel. With the base member accurately positioned like this, the lining is superimposed on the base member, and then the door panel and the lining are joined together. Respective mounting sections of the lining and the door panel must be positioned in alignment with each other with attention such that the base member is not inadvertently dropped. Thus, the vehicle door handle device disclosed in Patent Literature 1 has a room for further improvement in terms of its mountability. 
       PRIOR ART LITERATURE 
     Patent Literature 
       [0000]    
       
         
           
             Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2010-36682. 
           
         
       
     
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
       [0006]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved technique which allows a vehicle door handle device to be mounted with ease. 
       Solution to Problem 
       [0007]    According to the present invention, there is provided a mounting structure for a vehicle door handle device comprising a door panel of the vehicle door, a lining covering an inner side of the door panel facing a passenger compartment, and a vehicle door handle device mounted to both the door panel and the lining and operable to open and close the door, the vehicle door handle device including a pivot shaft mounted to extend vertically toward upper and lower wall portions of a base member and a handle section pivotably mounted on the pivot shaft, the base member including mounted-to-panel sections and mounted-to-lining sections formed on a peripheral edge thereof, the mounted-to-panel sections being mounted to the door panel, the mounted-to-lining sections being mounted to the lining, the mounted-to-panel sections being each constructed to be movable within a predetermined range relative to the door panel, the mounted-to-lining sections being mounted to the lining by means of resilient clips, the clips normally biasing the base member toward the lining. 
         [0008]    Preferably, in the mounting structure of the invention, at least one of the mounted-to-panel sections is disposed on a side toward which the handle section is pivotally pulled relative to the pivot shaft. 
         [0009]    Preferably, the mounted-to-panel sections are provided in a pair on upper and lower portions of the peripheral edge of the base member, and an imaginary line interconnecting the pair of the mounted-to-panel sections intersects an axis line of the pivot shaft in a front-rear direction of the vehicle body. 
         [0010]    Preferably, the mounted-to-lining sections are provided in a pair on upper and lower portions of the peripheral edge of the base member, an imaginary line interconnecting the mounted-to-lining sections not only tilts in an opposite oblique front-rear direction from the imaginary line interconnecting the pair of the mounted-to-panel sections but also interests the axis line of the pivot shaft, and the imaginary line interconnecting the pair of the mounted-to-panel sections and the imaginary line interconnecting the mounted-to-lining sections intersect each other. 
         [0011]    Preferably, one of the pair of the mounted-to-lining sections is mounted to the lining by means of one of the clips that is vertically resiliently deformable, and the other of the pair of the mounted-to-lining sections is mounted to the lining by means of another of the clips that is horizontally resiliently deformable. 
         [0012]    Preferably, each of the mounted-to-panel sections is mounted to the door panel by means of a stepped bolt, and a gap between a panel mounting hole formed in the mounted-to-panel section and having the stepped bolt inserted therethrough and a stepped section of the stepped bolt inserted through the panel mounting hole is formed such that a portion of the gap in a circumferential direction of the stepped bolt is greater than another portion of the gap in an inserted direction of the stepped bolt. 
       Advantageous Effects of Invention 
       [0013]    In the mounting structure of the present invention, the mounted-to-panel sections that are to be mounted to the door panel and the mounted-to-lining sections that are to be mounted to the door panel are formed on the peripheral edge of the base member. To mount the vehicle door handle device, first of all, the mounted-to-panel sections are mounted to the door panel. Then, the lining is mounted with the vehicle door handle device kept in a fixed state. Thus, there is no need to keep holding the vehicle door handle device, so that the lining can be mounted with ease. 
         [0014]    Further, because the mounted-to-panel sections are each movable within a predetermined range relative to the door panel, it is possible to finely adjust a position of the vehicle door handle device during the mounting work, thereby achieving an improved workability. 
         [0015]    Further, because the resilient clips normally bias the base member toward the lining and are attached to the mounted-to-lining sections in such a manner as to pull the base member, it is possible to secure a sufficient mounting accuracy of the lining relative to the base member. 
         [0016]    In addition, because the mounted-to-panel sections and the mounted-to-lining sections are formed on the peripheral edge of the base member, they can be covered with the lining, with the result that the outer appearance of the vehicle door handle device can be enhanced. 
         [0017]    Further, at least one of the mounted-to-panel sections is disposed on a side toward which the handle section is pivotally pulled relative to the pivot shaft. Namely, the mounted-to-panel section is formed at such a position where an imaginary line interconnecting the distal end of the handle section and the mounted-to-panel section intersects the axis line of the pivot shaft. Thus, the pivoting direction of the handle section and a direction in which the mounted-to-panel section is pressed against the door panel can be matched or conformed with each other. By such directional conformity, it is possible to reduce a load acting on the panel mounting hole during the pivoting operation and thus increase the operating life of the vehicle door handle device. 
         [0018]    Further, in the mounting structure of the present invention, the imaginary line interconnecting the pair of the mounted-to-panel sections intersects the axis line of the pivot shaft in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body. In addition, the base member is mounted to the door panel at positions forward and rearward of the pivot shaft. In this way, it is possible to prevent unwanted uplift of the base member during a pivoting operation of the handle section. 
         [0019]    Further, in the mounting structure of the present invention, the imaginary line interconnecting the pair of the mounted-to-lining sections intersects the axis line of the pivot shaft in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body. The base member is mounted to the lining at positions forward and rearward of the pivot shaft. Namely, the base member is biased toward the lining at positions forward and rearward of the pivot shaft. Thus, even when the handle section is being pivoted, the base member can be held in close contact with the lining. Further, because the base member is mounted to the lining by means of the two mounted-to-lining sections, it is possible to enhance accuracy of the mounted position of the base member. 
         [0020]    Furthermore, in the mounting structure of the present invention, one of the pair of the mounted-to-lining sections is mounted to the lining by means of one of the clips that is vertically resiliently deformable, and the other of the pair of the mounted-to-lining sections is mounted to the lining by means of another of the clips that is horizontally resiliently deformable. With the clips oriented in different directions as above, it is possible to prevent displacement of the lining due to external force, such as vibrating force. Namely, when vertical external force acting in the vertical or up-down direction has been applied to the lining, undesired displacement of the lining is prevented by the vertically-deformable clip. When horizontal external force acting in the front-rear direction has been applied to the lining, undesired displacement of the lining is prevented by the horizontally-deformable clip. 
         [0021]    Furthermore, in the mounting structure of the present invention, the gap between the panel mounting hole formed in the mounted-to-panel section and having the stepped bolt inserted therethrough and the stepped section of the stepped bolt inserted through the panel mounting hole is formed such that a portion of the gap in the circumferential direction of the stepped bolt is greater than another portion of the gap in the inserted direction of the stepped bolt. Thus, adjusting margins in the up-down and front-rear directions can be set large, with the result that assembly of the vehicle door handle can be significantly facilitated. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a vehicle door provided with an embodiment of a vehicle door handle device of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the vehicle door handle device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the vehicle door handle device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  is a view explanatory of dimensions of a stepped bolt and a mounted-to-panel section shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  is a sectional view taken along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 8  is a view explanatory of operation of a clip shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 9  is a view explanatory of steps for mounting the vehicle door handle device shown in  FIG. 3  to a door panel; and 
           [0031]      FIG. 10  is a view explanatory of a step of mounting a lining shown in  FIG. 1  to the vehicle door handle device. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0032]    Now, a description will be given about a vehicle door handle device of the present invention in relation to a case where the vehicle door handle device is mounted on a right front vehicle door. 
         [0033]      FIG. 1  shows the vehicle door  10  as viewed from inside a passenger compartment. In the vehicle door  10 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , a door panel  11  has an inner (passenger-compartment-side) surface (i.e., surface closer to a reader of the figure) covered with a lining  12 , and the vehicle door handle device  20  is supported by the door panel  11  and the lining  12 . 
         [0034]    The vehicle door handle device  20  is constructed to be operable to not only switch between locked and unlocked states of the vehicle door  10  but also open and close the vehicle door  10 . Details of the vehicle door handle device  20  will be discussed below with reference to  FIG. 2  and subsequent figures. 
         [0035]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the vehicle door handle device  20  includes: a base member  30  shaped like a substantially rectangular case as viewed in front elevation; an operating handle  40  pivotably mounted to the base member  30  and operable to open and close the vehicle door  10 ; and a lock knob  50  pivotably mounted above the operating handle  40  and operable to switch between the locked and unlocked states of the vehicle door  10 . The base member  30  is a resin product formed by injection molding. 
         [0036]    The base member  30  has three mounted-to-panel sections  31  to  33  and three mounted-to-lining sections  34  to  36  formed on the peripheral edge thereof. The mounted-to-panel sections  31  to  33  are formed for mounting the vehicle door handle device  20  to the door panel  11 . The mounted-to-lining sections  34  to  36  are formed for mounting the vehicle door handle device  20  to the lining (depicted aby reference numeral  12  in  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0037]    Of the three mounted-to-panel sections  31  to  33 , the one formed on the lower edge  30   a  of the base member  30  and rearward of the axis line CL of a pivot shaft  41  will be referred to as “first mounted-to-panel section  31 ” as necessary, the one formed on the upper edge  30   b  of the base member  30  and forward of the axis line CL of the pivot shaft  41  will be referred to as “second mounted-to-panel section  32 ” as necessary, and the one formed on the front edge  30   c  of the base member  30  will be referred to as “third mounted-to-panel section  33 ” as necessary. 
         [0038]    An imaginary line L 1  interconnecting the first mounted-to-panel section  31  and the second mounted-to-panel section  32  intersects the axis line CL of the pivot shaft  41  in a front-rear direction of a vehicle body. Further, a distance from the first mounted-to-panel section  31  to the axis line CL of the pivot shaft  41   a  is greater than a distance from the second mounted-to-panel section  32  to the axis line CL of the pivot shaft  41 . It is preferable that the distance from the first mounted-to-panel section  31 , formed rearward of the axis line CL of the pivot shaft  41 , be longer than the distance from the second mounted-to-panel section  32 , formed forward of the axis line CL of the pivot shaft  41 , to the axis line CL of the pivot shaft  41 . 
         [0039]    Further, the mounted-to-panel sections  31  to  33  have respective circular panel mounting holes  31   a  to  33   a  formed therein for passage therethrough of stepped bolts  71 . The vehicle door handle device  20  is mounted to the door panel by means of the stepped bolts  71 . 
         [0040]    Further, of the three mounted-to-lining sections  34  to  36 , the one formed on the lower edge  30   a  of the base member  30  and forward of the axis line CL of the pivot shaft  41  will be referred to as “first mounted-to-lining section  34 ” as necessary, the one formed on the upper edge  30   b  of the base member  30  and rearward of the axis line CL of the pivot shaft  41  will be referred to as “second mounted-to-lining section  35 ” as necessary, and the one formed on the front edge  30   c  and the upper edge  30   b  of the base member  30  will be referred to as “third mounted-to-lining section  36 ” as necessary. 
         [0041]    An imaginary line L 2  interconnecting the first mounted-to-lining section  34  and the second mounted-to-lining section  35  slants in an opposite oblique front-rear direction from the above-mentioned imaginary line L 1  interconnecting the first panel mounting hole  31  and the second mounted-to-panel section  32 . Further, the imaginary line L 2  interconnecting the first mounted-to-lining section  34  and the second mounted-to-lining section  35  not only intersects the axis line CL of the pivot shaft  41  in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body, but also intersects the imaginary line L 1  interconnecting the first panel mounting hole  31  and the second mounted-to-panel section  32 . 
         [0042]    Further, the mounted-to-lining sections  34  to  36  have respective rectangular lining mounting holes  34   a  to  36   a  for fitting therein clips  74 . The clips  74  are attached integrally to the lining, and the vehicle door handle device  20  is mounted to the lining as well by means of the clips  74 . Namely, the vehicle door handle device  20  is supported by both of the door panel  11  and the lining. 
         [0043]    The first and third lining mounting holes  34   a  and  36   a  formed in the first and third mounted-to-lining section  34  and  36  are holes elongated in the front-rear direction. The second lining mounting hole  35   a  formed in the second mounted-to-lining section  35  is a hole elongated in an up-down direction. 
         [0044]    The clips  74  of a same type are used for the first to third lining mounting holes  34   a  to  36   a . These clips  74  differ in their attached direction depending on directions in which the lining mounting holes  34   a  to  36   a  are formed. 
         [0045]    The formed positions of the first and second mounted-to-panel sections  31  and  32  and the first and second mounted-to-lining sections  34  and  35  may be modified as necessary; for example, the positions of the formed positions of the first and second mounted-to-panel sections  31  and  32  and the first and second mounted-to-lining sections  34  and  35  may be reversed in the up-down direction. Namely, the formed positions of the first and second mounted-to-panel sections  31  and  32  and the first and second mounted-to-lining sections  34  and  35  are not limited to those in the illustrated example. The operating handle  40  will be described below in detail later with reference to  FIG. 4 . 
         [0046]    In the operating handle  40 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , the pivot shaft  41 , extending vertically (in the up-down direction), is mounted to the base member  30 , and a handle section  42  to be gripped and operated by a passenger or vehicle occupant is mounted on the pivot shaft  41 . 
         [0047]    The pivot shaft  41  is surrounded at its outer periphery with a spring  43  so that the distal end  42   a  of the handle section  42  is normally biased toward the base member  30 . 
         [0048]    A rubber stopper  84  is mounted to the base member  30 . When the handle section  42  is not being operated, a stopper-abutting surface  42   b  of the handle section  42  is kept in abutment against the stopper  84  by the biasing force of the spring  43 . 
         [0049]    To open the vehicle door  10 , the vehicle occupant pivots the handle section  42  toward the rear of the vehicle body against the biasing force of the spring  43 . In response to the vehicle occupant pivoting the handle section  42  toward the rear of the vehicle body, a wire  85  is pulled so that the vehicle door  10  can be opened. A pivoting amount of the handle section  42  is limited by a pivot limiting section  30   d  formed on the base member  30 . Namely, the pivoting movement of the handle section  42  is limited by a limiting-section abutting surface  42   c  of the handle section  42  abutting against the pivot limiting section  30   d.    
         [0050]    With combined reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the following can be said. At least one of the mounted-to-panel sections (e.g., the first mounted-to-panel section  31 ) is provided rearward (as viewed in the direction where the handle section  42  is pivotally pulled) of the axis line CL of the pivot shaft  41 , i.e. provided on a side toward which the handle section  42  is pivotally pulled relative to the pivot shaft  41  to open the vehicle door. 
         [0051]    The first mounted-to-panel section  31  is formed near a position where an imaginary line L 3  interconnecting the distal end  42   a  of the handle section  42  and the first mounted-to-panel section  31  intersects the axis line CL of the pivot shaft  41 . Thus, the pivoting direction of the handle section  42  and a direction in which the first mounted-to-panel section  31  is pressed against the door panel  11  can be matched or conformed with each other. By such directional conformity, it is possible to reduce a load acting on the first panel mounting hole  31  during the pivoting operation and thus increase the operating life of the vehicle door handle device  20 . 
         [0052]    In addition, the base member  30  is mounted to the door panel  11  at positions forward and rearward of the pivot shaft  41 . In this way, it is possible to prevent unwanted uplift of the base member  30  during the pivoting operation of the handle section  42 . 
         [0053]    Further, by the base member  30  being mounted to the lining ( 12  in  FIG. 1 ) by means of two of the mounted-to-lining sections (first and second mounted-to-lining sections  34  and  35 ), accuracy of the mounted position of the base member  30  can be enhanced. Details of the mounted-to-panel sections (depicted at  31  to  33  in  FIG. 2 ) will be discussed below with reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
         [0054]      FIG. 5  shows the first mounted-to-panel section  31  duly mounted to the door panel  11 . A mounting structure of the second and third mounted-to-panel sections (depicted at  32  and  33  in  FIG. 2 ) is similar to that of the first panel mounting hole  31  and thus will not be described here to avoid unnecessary duplication. 
         [0055]    A bolt-attaching clip  86  is fitted through a panel hole  11   a  formed through the door panel  11 . The bolt-attaching clip  86  includes a base section  86   a  abutted against the door panel  11 , and two leg sections  86   b  extending from the base section  86   a  in a gradually spreading-out configuration. The bolt-attaching clip  86  is a component part that can be fitted in the door panel  11  by being pushed through the panel hole  11   a  while the two leg sections  86   a  are being resiliently deformed toward each other. 
         [0056]    To mount the first mounted-to-panel section  31  to the door panel  11 , the stepped bolt  71  is screwed into the leg sections  86   b  with the first panel mounting hole  31   a  positioned between the leg sections  86   b . The leg sections  86   b  spread out away from each other by the stepped bolt  71  being screwed and thus can be prevented from slipping off the door panel  11 . In this manner, the vehicle door handle device  20  can be mounted to the door panel  11 . 
         [0057]    Further, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the first panel mounting hole  31   a  has an inner diameter D 2  greater than an outer diameter D 1  of a stepped section  71   a  of the stepped bolt  71 . The first panel mounting hole  31   a  can be moved relative to the stepped bolt  7 , fixed to the door panel  11 , by an amount corresponding to a difference between the outer diameter D 1  of the stepped section of  71   a  and the inner diameter D 2  of the first panel mounting holes  31   a . Namely, the first mounted-to-panel section  31  is constructed to be movable within a predetermined range relative to the door panel  11  in the up-down and front-rear directions of the vehicle body. 
         [0058]    With the first mounted-to-panel section  31  constructed to be movable relative to the door panel  11  as above, it is possible to finely adjust the mounted position of the vehicle door handle device  20  during mounting work of the vehicle door handle device  20 . 
         [0059]    Further, the first mounted-to-panel section  31   a  has a height H 2  slightly smaller than a height H 1  of the stepped section of  71   a  of the stepped bolt  71  (e.g., smaller than the height by 0.1 mm). Thus, the first mounted-to-panel section  31  is constructed to be movable in a vehicle with direction as well. In this manner, the first mounted-to-panel section  31  can be moved in all directions. 
         [0060]    A gap between the first panel mounting hole  31   a  and the stepped section  71   a  of the stepped bolt  71  inserted through the mounting hole  31   a  is formed such that a portion of the gap in a circumferential direction of the stepped bolt is greater than another portion of the gap in an inserted direction of the stepped bolt; namely, (D 2 −D 1 )&gt;(H 1 −H 2 ). Adjusting margins in the up-down and front-rear directions can be set large like this, so that assembly of the vehicle door handle  20  can be facilitated. Details of the limiting mounting sections (indicted by reference numerals  34  to  36  in  FIG. 2 ) will be discussed later with reference to  FIGS. 7 and 8 . 
         [0061]      FIG. 7  shows the clip  74  attached to the first lining mounting hole  34   a . A mounting structure of the third lining mounting hole (indicated by reference numeral  36  in  FIG. 2 ) is similar to that of the lining mounting hole  34   a . Further, the second lining mounting hole (indicated by reference numeral  35   a  in  FIG. 2 ) is the same in basic construction as that of the lining mounting hole  34   a , except that a mounting direction of the second lining mounting hole  35   a  is different by 90° from that of the lining mounting hole  34   a . Therefore, a detailed description about the second and third lining holes  35   a  and  36   a  will be omitted here to avoid unnecessary duplication. 
         [0062]    A clip mounting section  12   a  for mounting thereon the clip  74  is formed on the lining  12 . The clip  74  includes: base sections  74   a  fitted in the first lining mounting hole  34   a ; first taper sections  74   b  extending from the base sections  74   a  in a gradually spreading-out fashion; second taper sections  74   c  extending from the respective distal ends of the first taper sections  74   b  toward each other in a gradually tapering (narrowing) fashion; a head section  74   d  having a generally U sectional shape to interconnect the second taper sections  74   c  and cover a distal end portion of the clip mounting section  12   a ; and claw sections  74   e  extending from the second taper sections  74   c  into biting engagement with the clip mounting section  12   a.    
         [0063]    The clip  74  is attached in a resiliently deformed state so as to expand the first lining mounting hole  34   a  in the up-down direction. Namely, the clip  74  attached to the first lining mounting hole  34   a  is in a state resiliently deformed vertically in the up-down direction. 
         [0064]    As seen in  FIG. 2 , the second lining mounting hole  35   a  is a rectangular hole elongated in the up-down direction. The clip  74  fitted in the second lining mounting hole  35   a  is attached in a resiliently deformed state so as to expand the second lining mounting hole  35   a  in the front-rear direction. Namely, the clip  74  attached to the second lining mounting hole  35   a  is in a state resiliently deformed horizontally or in the front-rear direction. 
         [0065]    The foregoing description can be summarized as follows. One of a pair of upper and lower mounted-to-lining sections  34  and  35 , i.e. the first mounted-to-lining section  34 , is attached to the lining  12  via the vertically-deformable clip  74 , and the other of the pair, i.e. the second mounted-to-lining section  35 , is attached to the lining  12  via the horizontally-deformable clip  74 . With the clips  74  oriented in different directions as above, it is possible to prevent undesired displacement of the lining  12  due to external force, such as vibrating force. Namely, when vertical external force acting in the up-down direction has been applied to the lining  12 , undesired displacement of the lining  12  is prevented by the vertically-deformable clip  74 . When horizontal external force acting in the front-rear direction has been applied to the lining  12 , displacement of the lining  12  is prevented by the horizontally-deformable clip  74 . 
         [0066]    As shown in  FIG. 8 , the first taper sections  74   b  of the clip  74  are each held in contact with the edge of the first lining mounting hole  34   a  in tilted relation to the latter. Thus, resilient force of the clip  74  transmits to the first lining mounting hole  34   a  via the first taper sections  74   b  as indicated by arrow ( 1 ). 
         [0067]    A portion of the resilient force of the clip  74  acts in such a direction as to expand the first lining mounting hole  34   a , as indicated by arrow ( 2 ). Further, the remaining portion of the resilient force of the clip  74  acts in such a direction as to bias the base member  30  toward a widthwise center of the vehicle, as indicated by arrow ( 3 ). 
         [0068]    As also shown in  FIG. 7 , the lining  12  is disposed on a side of the base member  30  closer to the widthwise center of the vehicle. Namely, the base member  30  is normally biased toward the lining  12  by means of the clip  74 . 
         [0069]    As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 7 , the imaginary line L 1  interconnecting the pair of mounted-to-panel sections (the first and second mounted-to-panel sections  31  and  32  intersects the axis line CL of the pivot shaft  41  in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body. The base member  30  is mounted to the lining  12  at positions forward and rearward of the axis line CL of the pivot shaft  41 . Thus, even when the handle section  42  is being pivoted, the base member  30  can be held in close contact with the lining  12 . Details of how the vehicle door handle device  20  is assembled will be discussed below with reference to  FIGS. 9 and 10 . 
         [0070]    As shown in  FIG. 9 , first, the vehicle door handle device  20  is mounted to the door panel  11 . More specifically, the first to third mounted-to-panel sections  31  to  33  are fastened by means of the stepped bolts  71  to the bolt mounting clips  74  fixed to the door panel  11 . Steps of assembling the vehicle door handle device  20  will be described with reference to  FIG. 10 . 
         [0071]    As shown in  FIG. 10 , the lining  12  is mounted to the vehicle door handle device  20  already mounted to the door panel  11 . The clips  74  attached to the lining  12  are positioned in alignment with the first to third mounted-to-lining sections  34  to  36 , and then the lining  12  is pressed against the vehicle door handle device  20  so that the clips  74  are fitted in the first to third mounted-to-lining sections  34  to  36 . In this manner, work for mounting the vehicle door handle device  20  is completed. 
         [0072]    To mount the vehicle door handle device  20 , first of all, the first to third mounted-to-lining sections  34  to  36  are mounted to the door panel  11 . Then, the lining  12  is mounted to the vehicle door handle device  20  kept in a fixed stated. Thus, there is no need to keep holding the vehicle door handle device  20 , so that the lining  12  can be mounted to the vehicle door handle device  20  with ease. 
         [0073]    In addition, the first to third mounted-to-panel sections  31  to  33  and the first to third mounted-to-lining sections  34  to  36  are formed on the peripheral edge of the base member  30 . Thus, the first to third mounted-to-panel sections  31  to  33  and the first to third mounted-to-lining sections  34  to  36  can be covered with the lining  12 . Namely, the first to third mounted-to-panel sections  31  to  33 , the first to third mounted-to-lining sections  34  to  36  and the mounting component parts (stepped bolts  71  and clips  74 ) can be covered with the lining  12 , and thus, it is possible to enhance the outer appearance of the vehicle door handle device  20 . Namely, only the principal section of the base member  30 , the operating handle  40  and the lock knob  50  are visible through an opening  12   b  of the lining  12 . 
         [0074]    Whereas the vehicle door handle device of the present invention has been described above as applied to the right front vehicle door, it may be applied to a left or rear vehicle door and should not be construed as limited to the aforementioned construction. 
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
       [0075]    The basic principles of the present invention are well suited for application to doors of passenger vehicles. 
       REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
       [0076]      10  . . . vehicle door,  11  . . . door panel,  12  . . . lining,  20  . . . vehicle door handle device,  30  . . . base member,  31  to  33  . . . mounted-to-panel sections,  31   a  to  33   a  . . . panel mounting holes,  34  to  36  . . . mounted-to-lining sections,  41  . . . pivot shaft,  42  . . . handle section,  71  . . . stepped bolt,  71   a  . . . stepped section,  74  . . . clip, CL . . . axis line, L 1  . . . imaginary line interconnecting the mounted-to-panel sections, L 2  . . . imaginary line interconnecting the mounted-to-lining sections