Vehicle door handle mounting structure

A vehicle door handle mounting structure (1) includes: a vehicle door (3) including a decoration member (5) mounted on a front side of an outer panel (31) and having a coupling portion (522) that is placed in an opening (312) of the outer panel (31); a door handle (4) mounted in the decoration member (5); and a bracket (9) coupled to the coupling portion (522) from a back side of the outer panel (31) and, together with the decoration member (5), holding the outer panel (31) therebetween.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-240884 filed on Dec. 15, 2017, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to vehicle door handle mounting structures including a decoration member that is mounted on the outer surface of a vehicle door (e.g., a back door) and a door handle that is mounted on the decoration member.

In a vehicle door handle mounting structure described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-172572, a decoration member (e.g., a garnish) is mounted on the outer surface of a back door and a door handle is mounted on the back side of the decoration member in order to use the decoration member as a door handle.

SUMMARY

In the case where a decoration member is mounted on the outer surface of a back door and a door handle is mounted on the back side of the decoration member in order to use the decoration member as a door handle as described above, the decoration member is subjected to load when the user operates the door handle. The decoration member therefore need be firmly fixed to the back door.

In the case where the decoration member is used as a door handle, the decoration member is typically fixed to the back door with bolts and nuts. Accordingly, if the decoration member is a wide member, the decoration member can be fixed at many points to the back door. The decoration member can thus be firmly fixed to the back door.

However, if the decoration member is a narrow member like a mascot, the decoration member cannot be fixed at many points to the back door. For example, the decoration member can be fixed at only a few points in its upper part to the back door. The decoration member therefore cannot be firmly fixed to the back door, resulting in insufficient mounting rigidity of the decoration member on the back door.

It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a vehicle door handle mounting structure that provides sufficient mounting rigidity of a decoration member on a vehicle door even if the decoration member is a narrow member.

A vehicle door handle mounting structure according to the present disclosure is a vehicle door handle mounting structure including: a vehicle door including an outer panel having an opening; a decoration member mounted on a front side of the outer panel and having a coupling portion that is placed in the opening of the outer panel; a door handle mounted in the decoration member; and a bracket coupled to the coupling portion from a back side of the outer panel and, together with the decoration member, holding the outer panel therebetween.

With this configuration, the door handle is mounted in the decoration member mounted on the outer panel of the vehicle door. Accordingly, the decoration member can also be used as the door handle. The coupling portion of the decoration member is placed in the opening of the outer panel, the bracket is coupled to the coupling portion from a back side of the outer panel, and the outer panel is held between the bracket and the decoration member. The decoration member is thus firmly fixed to the outer panel. Sufficient mounting rigidity of the decoration member on the outer panel (i.e., the vehicle door) is thus provided even if the decoration member is narrow and cannot be fixed at many points to the outer panel by fixing parts such as bolts and nuts.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, the decoration member may have a decoration member body and a housing mounted on a back side of the decoration member body and supporting the door handle. The housing may have a back-side case portion fixed to a back surface of the decoration member, and an accommodating recess formed so as to be recessed from a front side toward a back side of the back-side case portion and accommodating the door handle. The accommodating recess may project from the back side of the back-side case portion to form the coupling portion.

With this configuration, the accommodating recess of the decoration member in which the door handle is placed also serves as the coupling portion. Accordingly, the coupling portion need not be provided separately, whereby reduction in size of the decoration member is achieved.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, an outer peripheral edge of the decoration member may be placed on the front side of the outer panel. The bracket may have a holding portion that is placed over the outer peripheral edge of the decoration member from the back side of the outer panel. The outer panel may be held between the outer peripheral edge of the decoration member and the holding portion of the bracket.

With this configuration, the outer peripheral edge of the decoration member together with the bracket holds the outer panel therebetween. The outer panel is thus stably held between the decoration member and the bracket. Since the outer peripheral edge of the decoration member is used to hold the outer panel, a relatively large region of the outer panel can be held. The outer panel is thus stably held between the decoration member and the bracket.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, the outer panel may have in its surface a stepped recessed portion on which the decoration member is mounted. A stepped peripheral wall of the stepped recessed portion may be tilted outward in a radial direction. The outer peripheral edge of the decoration member may be placed on a front side of the stepped peripheral wall of the stepped recessed portion. The holding portion of the bracket may be placed on a back side of the stepped peripheral wall of the stepped recessed portion.

With this configuration, the stepped peripheral wall of the stepped recessed portion for mounting the decoration member, which is tilted outward in the radial direction, is used as a portion that is held between the decoration member and the bracket. Accordingly, a relatively large region of the outer panel can be used as the portion that is held between the decoration member and the bracket. Since the stepped peripheral wall used as the portion that is held between the decoration member and the bracket is tilted outward, the position of the portion that is held between the decoration member and the bracket is restrained from being displaced in the direction of a main surface of the outer panel.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, the coupling portion of the decoration member may be inserted through the opening and project beyond the back side of the outer panel. The bracket may have a cover portion coupled to the coupling portion so as to cover the coupling portion, the holding portion formed at an outer peripheral edge of the cover portion, and a reinforcing rib formed in a recessed corner that is formed in the cover portion and the holding portion.

With this configuration, the reinforcing rib is formed in the recessed corner that is formed in the cover portion and the holding portion of the bracket. This improves rigidity of the holding portion of the bracket. The outer panel is thus firmly fixed between the bracket and the decoration member.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, the bracket may have a drain groove in its inner peripheral surface. The drain groove may extend in both the cover portion and the holding portion, open in a tip end of the holding portion, and project toward outside of the bracket to form the reinforcing rib.

With this configuration, since the bracket has the drain groove in its inner peripheral surface, water (e.g., water drops) having entered the bracket is effectively drained to the outside of the bracket. Since the drain groove forms the reinforcing rib, the drain groove can also be used as the reinforcing rib.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, the bracket may be placed over the decoration member other than a part of the decoration member which is mounted on the outer panel.

With this configuration, the bracket is placed over the decoration member other than the part of the decoration member which is mounted on the outer panel. Accordingly, the portion of the outer panel which is held between the bracket and the decoration member does not overlap the part of the decoration member which is mounted on the outer panel. This allows the entire decoration member to have uniform mounting rigidity on the outer panel. Since the bracket is not placed on the entire back side of the decoration member, reduction in size of the bracket is achieved.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, the decoration member may be a mascot having substantially the same lateral width as that of the door handle, and the door handle may have an electric door switch.

With this configuration, the mascot (i.e., a relatively narrow decoration member) can be fixed with high rigidity to the outer panel. Moreover, the door handle has an electric door switch, which contributes to reduction in size of the mascot.

The present disclosure thus provides a vehicle door handle mounting structure capable of providing sufficient mounting rigidity of a decoration member on a vehicle door even if the decoration member is a narrow member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference toFIGS. 1 to 14.

SUMMARY

FIG. 1is a front view of a rear part of a vehicle2to which a vehicle door handle mounting structure1according to the embodiment has been applied.FIG. 2is a perspective view of a decoration member5mounted on the outer surface of a vehicle door (e.g., back door)3as viewed from below.FIGS. 3A and 3Bare a perspective view and a front view, respectively, of the vehicle door handle mounting structure1as viewed from the back side of an outer panel31.

As shown inFIG. 1, the vehicle door handle mounting structure1has been applied to a door handle4of the vehicle door3that opens and closes a trunk opening2aat the back of the vehicle2. The door handle4also serves as the decoration member5mounted on the outer surface of the vehicle door3.

More specifically, the vehicle2is, e.g., a wagon or a hatchback. The vehicle2has a trunk at the back. The vehicle2also has the trunk opening2aand the vehicle door3at the back. The trunk opening2acommunicates with the trunk and the vehicle door3opens and closes the trunk opening2a. The vehicle door3is, e.g., a hatch-type door. The upper side portion of the vehicle door3is swingably hinged to the upper side portion of the trunk opening2aso that the vehicle door3can swing upward and downward about near its upper side portion as a rotation axis L.

The vehicle door3includes the outer panel31that forms the outer surface of the vehicle door3. The decoration member5is mounted on the outer surface of the outer panel31. The decoration member5is, e.g., a mascot with a logo etc. thereon (i.e., a relatively narrow decoration member). For example, the decoration member5has a laterally long elliptical shape as viewed from the front, is somewhat thick, and projects from the outer surface of the outer panel31.

As shown inFIG. 2, the decoration member5has an accommodating space therein, and the door handle4that is operated to open and close the vehicle door3is accommodated in the accommodating space. The decoration member5has an opening5aat its lower end, which communicates with the accommodating space. The user can unlock the vehicle door3by inserting his/her finger(s) into the inside of the decoration member5through the opening5aat the lower end of the decoration member5and operating the door handle4. The user can open the vehicle door3by holding the decoration member5and swinging the vehicle door3upward.

As shown inFIGS. 3A and 3B, the decoration member5is fixed to the outer panel31by fixing parts7(e.g., fixing bolts521gand nuts N1) and fixing parts8(e.g., fixing pins521h). A bracket9is disposed on the back side of the decoration member5with the outer panel31interposed therebetween. The bracket9is coupled to the decoration member5with the outer panel31interposed therebetween by coupling parts10(e.g., coupling bolts522dand nuts N2). The outer panel31is held between the decoration member5and the bracket9by this coupling, and the decoration member5is further fixed to the outer panel31by this holding.

Detailed Configuration

The vehicle door handle mounting structure1(i.e., the outer panel31, the decoration member5, the bracket9, and the door handle4) will be described in detail with reference toFIGS. 3A to 14.FIGS. 4 and 5are exploded perspective views of the vehicle door handle mounting structure1as viewed from the rear and the front, respectively.FIGS. 6A and 6Bare a perspective view and a front view, respectively, of the decoration member5disposed in an opening312of the outer panel31as viewed from the back side of the outer panel31.FIG. 7is a perspective view of the bracket9as viewed from the front (i.e., the front side).FIGS. 8 to 11are sectional views taken along lines A-A, B-B, C-C, and D-D inFIG. 3B, respectively.FIGS. 12 to 14are sectional views taken along lines E-E, F-F, and G-G inFIG. 6B, respectively.

As shown inFIGS. 6A, 6B, and 13, the outer panel31has a stepped recessed portion311, an opening312, and through holes313(seeFIG. 9),314(seeFIG. 11). The decoration member5is mounted on the stepped recessed portion311, a housing52, described below, of the decoration member5is disposed in the opening312, and the fixing parts7,8for fixing the decoration member5are inserted through the through holes313,314.

The outer contour of the stepped recessed portion311is the same in shape and size (e.g., a substantially elliptical shape as viewed from the front) as the outer contour of a decoration member body51, described below, of the decoration member5. The stepped recessed portion311is recessed as viewed from an outer surface31aof the outer panel31and protrudes as viewed from a back surface31bof the outer panel31.

The stepped recessed portion311includes a flat bottom wall311aand a stepped peripheral wall311b. The stepped peripheral wall311bstands from the entire outer peripheral edge of the bottom wall311a.

For example, the bottom wall311ahas a substantially elliptical shape, and the stepped peripheral wall311bhas a substantially elliptical ring shape and is tilted so that its tip end (i.e., the end on the front side of the outer panel31) is located more outside in the radial direction than its base end is.

The bottom wall311ahas in its lower half the opening312where a coupling portion522, described below, of the decoration member5is disposed. For example, the opening312opens in the entire lower half of the bottom wall311a. The bottom wall311ahas in its upper half the through holes313,314for fixing the decoration member5. For example, the bottom wall311ahas two through holes313and two through holes314. The two through holes313are formed next to each other near the middle part in the lateral direction of the upper half of the bottom wall311a, and the two through holes314are formed on both sides in the lateral direction of the upper half of the bottom wall311a(i.e., on the right and left sides of the two through holes313), one on each side.

As shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, the vehicle door handle mounting structure1includes the decoration member5, the bracket9, and the door handle4. As described above, the decoration member5is mounted on the front side of the stepped recessed portion311of the outer panel31. The bracket9is coupled to the decoration member5from the back side of the outer panel31and together with the decoration member5holds the outer panel31therebetween. The door handle4is mounted in the decoration member5. The decoration member5and the bracket9are made of, e.g., resin (plastic etc.).

As shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, the decoration member5includes the decoration member body51with a logo etc. thereon, and the housing52accommodating the door handle4.

Decoration Member Body51

As shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, the decoration member body51includes an outer case511, a fixing base512, and an elastic member513. The door handle4and the housing52are fixed to the fixing base512, and the elastic member513is disposed in the clearance between the outer case511and the outer panel31.

For example, the outer case511has a shallow plate shape that is substantially elliptical as viewed from the front. The outer case511includes a bottom wall511aand an outer peripheral wall511bthat stands from the outer peripheral edge of the bottom wall511atoward the back side of the bottom wall511a.

For example, the bottom wall511ahas a plate shape that is substantially elliptical as viewed from the front. The bottom wall511ahas a logo511con its outer surface511d(seeFIG. 5). For example, the logo511cis mounted so as to project from the outer surface511dof the bottom wall511a. For example, the logo511cis a separate member (e.g., resin or metal) from the bottom wall511aand is fixed to the bottom wall511afrom the back side of the bottom wall511aby screws or is fixed to the bottom wall511aby an adhesive.

The bottom wall511ahas on its back surface511epositioning projections511ffor positioning the fixing base512and the housing52, fixing bosses511gfor fixing the housing52, and an engaged portion511hthat is engaged by an engaging portion521a, described below, of the housing52(seeFIG. 4).

For example, the positioning projections511fhave a bar shape and stand on the right and left sides of the upper part of the bottom wall511a(seeFIG. 11). For example, the fixing bosses511ghave a cylindrical shape and have in their tip end faces a hole511g1into which a screw B1for fixing the housing52is screwed (seeFIG. 12). For example, the fixing bosses511gstand on the right and left sides of the middle part in the vertical direction of the bottom wall511a. The engaged portion511hhas a laterally long box shape that opens in its lower surface. The engaged portion511his formed on the bottom wall511asuch that the side surface of the engaged portion511hwhich is located on the rear side of the vehicle is integral with the bottom wall511a(seeFIG. 8).

The outer peripheral wall511bis tilted so that its tip end is located more outside in the radial direction than its base end (i.e., the end on the bottom wall511aside) is. An upper peripheral wall511b1, a lower peripheral wall511b2, a left peripheral wall511b3, and a right peripheral wall511b4are connected in a ring shape to form the outer peripheral wall511b. The upper peripheral wall511b1has a relatively small height (length in the direction from the tip end to the base end of the upper peripheral wall511b), and the lower peripheral wall511b2has a relatively large height. The heights of the left peripheral wall511b3and the right peripheral wall511b4increase gradually so that the height on the lower peripheral wall511b2side is larger than that on the upper peripheral wall511b1side (seeFIG. 5).

The lower peripheral wall511b2has the opening5a. For example, the opening5ais formed in substantially the entire lower peripheral wall511b2and has a laterally long rectangular shape (seeFIG. 2). Since the lower peripheral wall511b2has a relatively large height as described above, the opening5ahas a sufficiently large size (that is, such a size that the user can easily insert his/her finger(s) into the opening5awhen operating the door handle4to open the vehicle door3, and can easily hold the peripheral edge of the opening5awhen opening the vehicle door3).

For example, the fixing base512has a plate shape that is substantially rectangular as viewed in plan, and has approximately such a size that the fixing base512is inscribed in the contour of the bottom wall511aof the outer case511. The fixing base512is fixed to the bottom wall511aby screws or an adhesive such that the back side of the fixing base512faces the back side of the bottom wall511aof the outer case511. The lower end of the fixing base512extends to a position near the lower end of the bottom wall511aof the outer case511(i.e., near the upper end of the opening5a).

The fixing base512has through holes512afor positioning the outer case511, positioning bosses512bfor positioning the housing52, a fixing boss512cfor fixing the housing52, fixing pieces512dfor fixing the housing52, fixing retaining portions512efor fixing the door handle4, and a clearance filling wall512ffor filling the clearance between the door handle4and the opening5aof the outer case511(seeFIG. 4).

For example, the through holes512aare formed on the right and left sides of the upper part of the fixing base512(i.e., at positions corresponding to the positioning projections511f) so as to extend through the fixing base512(seeFIG. 11). The positioning projections511fof the outer case511are loosely fitted in the through holes512a, whereby the outer case511and the fixing base512are roughly positioned relative to each other.

For example, the positioning bosses512bhave a substantially semicircular cylinder shape and stand on the right and left sides of the middle part in the vertical direction of the surface of the fixing base152(e.g., below the through holes512a) (seeFIG. 11). The positioning bosses512bhave a hole512b1in their tip end faces. Positioning projections521d, described below, of the housing52are fittingly inserted through the holes512b1. The fixing base512and the housing52are thus positioned relative to each other.

For example, the fixing boss512chas a substantially semicircular cylinder shape and stands in the middle part in the lateral direction of the upper part of the surface of the fixing base512(seeFIG. 8). The fixing boss512chas a hole512c1in its tip end face so that a screw B2for fixing the housing52is screwed therein.

For example, the fixing pieces512dstand from the right and left sides of the lower part of the surface of the fixing base512toward the front side of the surface of the fixing piece512d, and are bent so that the halves on the tip end side of the fixing pieces512dproject toward the right and left sides of the fixing base512(seeFIG. 14). For example, the halves on the tip end side of the fixing pieces512dare disposed below the fixing bosses511gof the outer case511(seeFIG. 12). The halves on the tip end side of the fixing pieces512dhave a hole512d1so that a screw B3for fixing the housing52is screwed therethrough.

For example, two fixing retaining portions512eare formed next to each other in the lateral direction on the lower part of the surface of the fixing base512. Each fixing retaining portion512ehas a pair of retaining walls512e1standing on the surface of the fixing base512(seeFIG. 14). The retaining walls512e1extend in the vertical direction and are separated from each other. Retaining grooves512e2that retain a stopper portion42c, described below, of the door handle4are formed in the opposing side surfaces of the retaining walls512e1. Each retaining groove512e2extends in the vertical direction and opens in the upper end face of the retaining wall512e1. The stopper portion42cof the door handle4is inserted into the retaining grooves512e2from above the pair of retaining walls512e1, whereby the door handle4is fixed to the fixing base512.

The clearance filling wall512fhas a middle wall512f1and right and left side walls512f2. The middle wall512f1stands on the lower end of the surface of the fixing base512, and the right and left side walls512f2project from the middle wall512fto the right and left sides. The middle wall512f1fills the clearance between the upper side of the opening5aof the outer case511and the door handle4(seeFIG. 8). The right and left side walls512f2fill the clearances between the right and left sides of the opening5aand the door handle4(seeFIG. 2).

The elastic member513covers the inner peripheral surface of the outer peripheral wall511band covers the tip end face of the outer peripheral wall511b(seeFIGS. 8 and 13). The tip end (i.e., a portion that covers the tip end face of the outer peripheral wall511b) of the elastic member513contacts the outer surface of the outer panel31. This contact restrains water from the outside from entering a vehicle body through the opening312of the outer panel31. The elastic member513extends along the inner half of the tip end face of the outer peripheral wall511bin the thickness direction of the outer peripheral wall511b. This makes it difficult for the elastic member513to be seen from the outside of the decoration member5.

As shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, the housing52has a back-side case portion521, an accommodating recess522, and a rubber elastic member523, and a urethane elastic member524. The back-side case portion521is fixed to the back side of the decoration member body51. The accommodating recess522is formed in the back-side case portion521and accommodates the door handle4.

The back-side case portion521has a shallow plate shape whose outer contour is substantially the same in shape and size as the outer contour of the decoration member body51. The back-side case portion521is shaped so that it can be fitted in the stepped recessed portion311of the outer panel31. The back-side case portion521includes a bottom wall5211and an outer peripheral wall5212that stands form the outer peripheral edge of the bottom wall5211toward the decoration member body51. The bottom wall5211is a portion that is fitted on the bottom wall311aof the stepped recessed portion311, and the outer peripheral wall5212is a portion that is fitted on the stepped peripheral wall311bof the stepped recessed portion311.

The bottom wall5211has a plate shape (e.g., substantially elliptical as viewed from the front) and is substantially the same in shape and size as the bottom wall311aof the stepped recessed portion311of the outer panel31. The bottom wall5211has the accommodating recess522.

The rubber elastic member523has a strip shape and extends along the lower half (i.e., a portion that overlaps the lower half of the opening312of the outer panel31) of the entire circumferential length of the peripheral edge on the tip end side of the outer peripheral surface of the outer peripheral wall5212. The tip end of the elastic member523projects from the tip end of the outer peripheral wall5212, is tilted outward of the outer peripheral wall5212, and contacts the surface of the outer panel31(seeFIG. 8). This contact restrains water from the outside from entering the vehicle body from the clearance between the opening312of the outer panel13and the housing52through the opening312. The portion of the outer peripheral surface of the outer peripheral wall5212on which the elastic member523is provided is recessed like a step. The outer peripheral surface of the outer peripheral wall5212is thus flush with the outer surface of the elastic member523.

The urethane elastic member524has an endless strip shape and extends along the entire circumferential length of the peripheral edge on the tip end side of the outer peripheral surface of the outer peripheral wall5212. The elastic member524contacts the surface of the outer panel31(seeFIG. 8). This contact restrains water from the outside from entering the vehicle body from the clearance between the opening312of the outer panel31and the housing52through the opening312.

A lower half (i.e., a portion that overlaps the lower half of the opening312)524ain the circumferential direction of the elastic member524is located behind the tip end of the elastic member523(seeFIG. 8). The pressure of water from the outside is thus reduced by the tip end of the elastic member523and the water is almost completely stopped by the lower half524aof the elastic member524. An upper half (i.e., a portion that overlaps the upper half of the opening312)524bin the circumferential direction of the elastic member524is located behind the elastic member513of the outer case511(seeFIG. 8). The pressure of water from the outside is thus reduced by the elastic member513and the water is almost completely stopped by the upper half524bof the elastic member524. The elastic member524also serves as a cushioning material between the housing52and the outer panel31.

The accommodating recess522is formed on the lower half of the bottom wall5211so as to be recessed from the front side (the decoration member body51side) toward the back side (the outer panel31side) of the back-side case portion521, and projects from the back side of the back-side case portion521. This projecting portion (i.e., the accommodating recess522) is disposed in the opening312of the outer panel31and projects beyond the back side of the outer panel31, and thus serves as a coupling portion to the bracket9. The accommodating recess522is hereinafter also referred to as the coupling portion522. The accommodating recess522is substantially in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped box that opens in its front surface. The open surface of the accommodating recess522is coupled so that the accommodating recess522communicates with the back-side case portion521in the lower half of the bottom wall5211of the back-side case portion521.

The accommodating recess522has through holes522a(seeFIG. 11), an opening522b(seeFIG. 8), a hook portion522c(seeFIG. 6), and the coupling bolts522d(seeFIG. 10). Screws B5for fixing the door handle4are inserted through the through holes522a. A wire43for the door handle4accommodated in the accommodating recess522is drawn out through the opening522d. The wire43is fixed to the hook portion522c. The coupling bolts522dare coupled to the bracket9.

For example, the through holes522aare formed on the right and left sides of the upper peripheral wall of the accommodating recess522, and the opening522bis formed in the middle part of the upper peripheral wall of the accommodating recess522. For example, the hook portion522cis mounted near the opening522bof the upper peripheral wall of the accommodating recess522.

The coupling bolts522dstand on the bottom of the accommodating recess522so as to project from the back side of the accommodating recess522. More specifically, a total of three coupling bolts522d, two in the upper part and one in the lower part, are provided on the bottom of the accommodating recess522. The coupling bolt522dincludes a threaded portion522d1, a head522d2formed at the base end of the threaded portion522d1, and a flange portion522d3formed on the threaded portion522d1so as to be separated from the head522d2. For example, the flange portion522d3has a disc shape and projects outward in the radial direction of the threaded portion522d1(seeFIG. 10).

Fixing portions522efor fixing the coupling bolt522dare formed on the outer main surface of the bottom of the accommodating recess522(seeFIGS. 6 and 10). The fixing portion522eis a substantially U-shaped peripheral wall that opens on its one side. This peripheral wall has a retaining groove522fformed in its inner peripheral surface so as to extend in the circumferential direction. Both ends of the retaining groove522fopen in both end faces of the peripheral wall.

The head522d2of the coupling bolt522dis inserted into the inside of the peripheral wall from the open side of the peripheral wall, and the peripheral edge of the head522d2is retained by the retaining groove522f, whereby the coupling bolt522dis fixed to the bottom of the accommodating recess522. In this fixed state, the threaded portion522d1of the coupling bolt522dprojects from the back side of the accommodating recess522, and the peripheral wall is held between the head522d2and the flange portion522d3of the coupling bolt522d.

The back-side case portion521includes the engaging portion521aand positioning through holes521bfor positioning the outer case511, and fixing through holes521cthrough which the screws B1for fixing the outer case511are screwed (seeFIG. 5).

The engaging portion521ais a portion that engages with the engaged portion511hof the outer case511(seeFIG. 8). The engaging portion521ais formed in the upper part (i.e., a portion corresponding to the engaged portion511h) of the inner peripheral surface of the outer peripheral wall5212of the back-side case portion521. The engaging portion521astands from the inner peripheral surface of the outer peripheral wall512toward the front side of the back-side case portion521. The half on the tip end side of the engaging portion521ais bent upward. The half on the tip end side of the engaging portion521ais bent upward. The half on the tip end side of the engaging portion521ais inserted into the open lower surface of the engaged portion511h, whereby the engaging portion521aengages with the engaged portion511h. The housing52and the outer case511are positioned relative to each other by this engagement.

The positioning through hole521bis a hole through which the positioning projection511fof the outer case511is fittingly inserted (seeFIG. 11). The back-side case portion521has bottomed cylindrical boss521b1formed on the right and left sides (i.e., portions corresponding to the positioning projections511f) of the upper part of the surface of the bottom wall5211so as to project from the upper part of the surface of the bottom wall5211. Each boss521b1has the positioning through hole521bin its tip end face. The positioning projections511fare fittingly inserted in the positioning through holes521b. The housing and the outer case511are also positioned relative to each other by this insertion.

The fixing through hole521cis a hole through which the screw B1for fixing the housing52to the fixing bosses511gof the outer case511is inserted (seeFIG. 13). The fixing through holes521care formed on the right and left sides (i.e., portions corresponding to the fixing bosses511g) of the middle part in the vertical direction of the bottom wall5211of the back-side case portion521. The screws B1are inserted through the fixing through holes521cfrom the back side of the housing52and are screwed into the holes511g1of the fixing bosses511g, whereby the housing52is fixed to the outer case511.

As described above, the back-side case portion521(i.e., the housing52) has positioning portions (i.e., the engaging portion521aand the positioning through holes521b), and the outer case511has corresponding positioning portions (i.e., the engaged portion511hand the positioning projections511f). With the positioning portions of the outer case511being positioned in the positioning portions of the back-side case portion521, the outer case511is fixed to the back-side case portion521by the screws B1. The housing52is thus easily positioned and fixed to the outer case511.

The back-side case portion521has positioning projections521dfor positioning the fixing base512and fixing through holes521e,521ffor fixing the fixing base512(seeFIG. 5).

The positioning projection521dis a projection that is fittingly inserted through the hole512b1of the positioning boss512bof the fixing base512(seeFIG. 11). The positioning projections521dstand on the right and left sides of the surface of the bottom wall5211of the back-side case portion521. For example, the positioning projections521dare located below the positioning through holes521b. The positioning projections521dare fittingly inserted through the holes512b1of the fixing base512, whereby the housing52and the fixing base512are positioned relative to each other.

The fixing through hole521eis a through hole through which the screw B2is inserted, and the screw B2is screwed into the hole512c1of the fixing boss521cof the fixing base512(seeFIG. 8). The fixing through hole521eis formed in the middle part (i.e., a portion corresponding to the fixing boss512c) in the lateral direction of the upper part of the surface of the bottom wall5211of the back-side case portion521. The screw B2is inserted through the fixing through hole521efrom the back side of the housing52and screwed into the hole512c1of the fixing boss512c, whereby the housing52is fixed to the fixing base512.

The fixing through hole521fis a through hole through which the screw B3is inserted, and the screw B3is screwed through the hole512d1of the fixing piece512dof the fixing base512(seeFIG. 14). The fixing through holes521fare formed in the right and left ends (i.e., portions corresponding to the holes512d1of the fixing pieces512d) of the outer peripheral wall5212of the back-side case portion521. For example, the fixing through holes521fare formed below the fixing through holes521f. The screws B3are inserted through the fixing through holes521ffrom the back side of the housing52and screwed through the holes512d1of the fixing pieces512d, whereby the housing52is fixed to the fixing base512.

As described above, the back-side case portion521(i.e., the housing52) has positioning portions (i.e., the positioning projections521d), and the fixing base512has corresponding positioning portions (i.e., the positioning bosses512b). With the positioning portions of the back-side case portion521being positioned in the positioning portions of the fixing base512, the back-side case portion521is fixed to the fixing base512by the screws B2, B3, whereby the back-side case portion521is easily positioned and fixed to the fixing base512.

The back-side case portion521has the fixing bolts521gand the fixing pins521hfor fixing the outer panel31(seeFIG. 4).

For example, the back-side case portion521has two fixing bolts521g, and the two fixing bolts521gstand next to each other in the lateral direction on the upper part of the back surface (i.e., the main surface on the outer panel31side) of the back-side case portion521. The fixing bolt521gincludes a threaded portion521g1, a head521g2formed at the base end of the threaded portion521g1, and a flange portion521g3formed on the threaded portion521g1so as to be located below and separated from the head521g2(seeFIG. 9). For example, the flange portion521g3has a disc shape and projects outward in the radial direction of the threaded portion521g1.

With the fixing bolts521gbeing mounted in the back surface of the back-side case portion521, the heads521g2are buried in the back-side case portion521. The flange portions521g3contact the back surface of the back-side case portion521. The threaded portions521g1stand on the back surface of the back-side case portion521.

With the threaded portions521g1of the fixing bolts521gbeing inserted through the through holes313of the outer panel31from the front side of the outer panel31, the nuts N1are screwed onto the threaded portions521g1from the back side of the outer panel31, so that the outer panel31is held between the flange portions521g3and the nuts N1. The back-side case portion521(i.e., the decoration member5) is thus fixed to the outer panel31(seeFIG. 9).

For example, the back-side case portion521has two fixing pins521h, and the two fixing pints521hstand next to each other in the lateral direction on the upper part of the back surface (i.e., the main surface on the outer panel31side) of the back-side case portion521. For example, the fixing pins521hare located on the right and left sides of the two fixing bolts521g. The fixing pin521hincludes a pin body521h1and a fixing retaining part521h2(seeFIG. 11). The pin body521h1has a bar shape, stands on the back surface of the back-side case portion521, and is integral with the back-side case portion521. The fixing retaining part521h2is made of a resin material and includes an inner cylinder portion521h3mounted on the pin body521h1and an outer cylinder portion521h4retained in the through hole314of the outer panel31.

The outer cylinder portion521h4is concentrically located radially outside the inner cylinder portion521h3so as to be separated from the inner cylinder portion521h3. The tip end of the outer cylinder portion521h4is connected to the tip end of the inner cylinder portion521h3. The outer cylinder portion521h4has a retaining protruding portion521h5and a flange portion521h6. The retaining protruding portion521h5has a substantially triangular shape and is formed in the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder portion521h4so as to extend in the axial direction of the outer cylinder portion521h5. The flange portion521h6is formed around the base end of the outer cylinder portion521h4and projects outward in the radial direction of the outer cylinder portion521h4.

With the fixing retaining part521h2being mounted on the pin body521h1, the fixing retaining part521h2is pressed into the through hole314of the outer panel31, whereby the peripheral edge of the through hole314is held between the retaining protruding portion521h5and the flange portion521h6of the fixing retaining part521h2. The back-side case portion521(i.e., the decoration member5) is thus also fixed to the outer panel31by the peripheral edge of the through hole314being held between the retaining protruding portion521h5and the flange portion521h6.

As shown inFIGS. 5 and 8, the door handle4is intended to detect user's operation of unlocking the vehicle door3by his/her finger(s), and includes an electric door switch41(seeFIG. 8) for detecting user's unlock operation with his/her finger(s) and a case42accommodating the electric door switch41. The lateral width of the door handle4is substantially the same as (more specifically, slightly smaller than) that of the decoration member5.

The case42is made of, e.g., resin and is substantially in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped box. The vertical width of the case42is about half the vertical width of the open surface of the accommodating recess522of the housing52. The lateral width of the case42is substantially the same as that of the accommodating recess522, and the depth (i.e., the width in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle) of the case42is substantially the same as the depth of the accommodating recess522. That is, the case42is formed so that it can be fitted in the upper half of the accommodating recess522.

For example, the lower surface of the case42is tilted so that the lower surface of the case42is located at a lower position on the open surface side of the accommodating recess522than on the bottom side of the accommodating recess522(seeFIG. 8). The case42has an opening42ain its lower surface, and a rubber sheet42bis disposed so as to close the opening42a. The electric door switch41is accommodated in the case42so as to be located on the back side of the opening42a. That is, the user can perform the unlock operation by turning on the electric door switch41with his/her finger(s) via the rubber sheet42b.

The case42has the stopper portions42c(seeFIGS. 5 and 14) and through holes42d(seeFIG. 11). The stopper portions42care retained by the fixing retaining portions512eof the fixing base512, and the screws B5for fixing the case42to the upper wall of the accommodating recess522of the housing52are screwed in the through holes42d.

For example, the case42has two stopper portions42c, and the two stopper portions42care formed next to each other in the lateral direction on the side surface on the front side (i.e., the fixing base512side) of the case42(seeFIG. 14). Each stopper portion42cis formed as a pair of stopper pawls42c1. The pair of stopper pawls42c1stand on the side surface on the front side of the case42so as to be separated from each other in the lateral direction of the case42. Each stopper pawl42c1has a pawl portion42c2at its tip end. The pawl portions42c2of the pair of stopper pawls42c1project in opposite directions to each other. Each pair of stopper pawls42c1are wide in the vertical direction of the case42.

The stopper portions42care slid within the fixing retaining portions512eof the fixing base52from the upper side toward the lower side of the fixing retaining portions512eand thus retained therein. That is, the pawl portions42c2of each pair of stopper pawls42c1are inserted into the retaining grooves512e2of the pair of retaining walls512e1of the fixing retaining portion512e, whereby the stopper portions42care retained in the fixing retaining portions512e. The door handle4is thus fixed to the fixing base512(and therefore the decoration member5).

The through holes42dare formed on the right and left sides (i.e., portions corresponding to the through holes522aof the housing52) of the upper wall of the case42(seeFIG. 11). The screws B5are inserted through the through holes522afrom the outside of the accommodating recess522and screwed into the through holes42d, whereby the door handle4is accommodated in the accommodating recess522of the housing52and fixed to the upper wall of the accommodating recess522. The door handle4is therefore accommodated in the accommodating recess522and fixed to the upper wall of the accommodating recess522by the fixing with the screws B5and by the stopper portions42cbeing retained in the fixing retaining portions512e. With the door handle4being accommodated in the accommodating recess522and fixed to the upper wall of the accommodating recess522, the wire43for the door handle4is drawn to the outside of the housing52through the opening522bof the accommodating recess522and is fixed by the hook portion522c(seeFIGS. 4 and 8).

As shown inFIGS. 4, 5, and 7, the bracket9includes a cover portion91, a holding portion92, reinforcing ribs93, and an elastic member94. The cover portion91covers the accommodating recess (coupling portion)522of the housing52from the back side of the accommodating recess522. The holding portion92is formed at the outer peripheral edge of the cover portion91. The reinforcing ribs93reinforce the holding portion92. The elastic member94serves as a cushioning material between the holding portion92and the outer panel31.

For example, the cover portion91is substantially in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped that is open in its front surface and can accommodate the accommodating recess522of the housing52. For example, the cover portion91is shaped so that it can be fitted on the accommodating recess522.

The cover portion91includes through holes91a, a recessed wiring path91b, and a wiring opening91c. The coupling bolts522dof the accommodating recess522are inserted through the through holes91a, the wire43for the door handle4is placed in the recessed wiring path91b, and the wire43for the door handle4is inserted through the wiring opening91c.

For example, the cover portion91has a total of three through holes91aformed in the back wall of the cover portion91, two next to each other in the lateral direction in the upper part and one in the middle in the lower part. That is, the through holes91aare formed at positions corresponding to the three coupling bolts522dof the decoration member5. The recessed wiring path91bis formed in the middle part in the lateral direction of the inner surface of the upper wall of the cover portion91so as to extend from the base end side to the tip end side of the upper wall and open in the tip end of the upper wall.

The accommodating recess (i.e., coupling portion)522projecting through the opening312of the outer panel31is accommodated in the cover portion91, whereby the cover portion91covers substantially the entire accommodating recess522(seeFIG. 10). With the accommodating recess522being covered by the cover portion91, the coupling bolts522dof the accommodating recess522extend through the through holes91aof the cover portion91. The nuts N2are screwed on the coupling bolts522d, whereby the coupling portion522is held between the nuts N2and the flange portions522d3of the coupling bolts522d. The cover portion91(and therefore the bracket9) is thus coupled to the coupling portion522. In this coupled state, the wire43for the door handle4extends to the outside of the bracket9through the recessed wiring path91bof the cover portion91and the wiring opening91cof the cover portion91(seeFIG. 8).

The holding portion92is a portion that together with the outer peripheral wall5212of the housing52of the decoration member5holds the stepped peripheral wall311bof the outer panel31therebetween (seeFIG. 14). The holding portion92is formed along the outer peripheral edge of the cover portion91other than the upper edge thereof, namely along the right and left edges and the lower edge of the cover portion91. That is, the holding portion91is formed only along a part of the outer peripheral edge of the cover portion91which overlaps the outer peripheral wall of the housing52(i.e., only along the right and left edges and the lower edge of the cover portion91). The holding portion92projects outward in the radial direction of the cover portion91from the outer peripheral edge of the cover portion91and is tilted so that the outer periphery of the holding portion92is located closer to the front side of the holding portion92than the inner periphery of the holding portion92is.

As described above, the cover portion91is coupled to the coupling portion522of the housing52, whereby the holding portion92together with the outer peripheral wall5212of the housing52holds the stepped peripheral wall311bof the outer panel31therebetween. The decoration member5is thus fixed to the stepped recessed portion311of the outer panel31.

As described above, the upper half of the decoration member5is fixed to the outer panel31by the fixing bolts521gand the fixing pins521h. Moreover, the lower half of the decoration member5is fixed to the outer panel31as the outer panel31is held between the outer peripheral wall5212of the housing52and the holding portion92of the bracket9. The decoration member5is thus fixed to the stepped recessed portion311.

The inner peripheral surface of the holding portion92is substantially concave in the longitudinal direction of the holding portion92. The holding portion92has drain grooves92ain the bottom part of the substantially concave inner peripheral surface. The drain grooves92aextend from the base end side to the tip end side of the holding portion92and open on the base end side (i.e., the inner peripheral surface of the cover portion91) and the tip end side of the driven grooves92a. This allows water having entered the cover portion91to flow through the drain grooves92aand be drained to the outside of the cover portion91through the open tip ends of the drain grooves92a. The drain groove92ahas a substantially U-shaped or V-shaped section and is formed so as to be recessed in the inner peripheral surface of the holding portion92and to project from the outer peripheral surface of the holding portion92.

The bracket9includes the reinforcing ribs93in the recessed corners formed in the holding portion92and the cover potion91. For example, the reinforcing rib93has a substantially triangular shape as viewed from the side and extends in both the holding portion92and the cover portion91. A plurality of reinforcing ribs93are formed at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the holding portion92. Of the plurality of reinforcing ribs93, the reinforcing ribs93formed in the right and left side surfaces of the cover portion91have a plate shape and the reinforcing ribs93formed in the lower surface of the cover portion91are formed by the drain grooves92a.

The elastic member94is made of, e.g., urethane. The elastic member94is interposed between the holding portion92and the stepped peripheral wall311bof the outer panel31and serves as a cushioning material. The elastic member94has a strip shape and extends along the edge on the tip end side of the inner peripheral surface of the holding portion92.

Primary Effects

The vehicle door handle mounting structure1according to the present embodiment is a vehicle door handle mounting structure including: a vehicle door (e.g., a back door)3including an outer panel31having an opening312; a decoration member5mounted on a front side of the outer panel31and having a coupling portion522that is placed in the opening312of the outer panel31; a door handle4mounted in the decoration member5; and a bracket9coupled to the coupling portion522from a back side of the outer panel31and, together with the decoration member5, holding the outer panel31therebetween.

With this configuration, the door handle4is mounted in the decoration member5mounted on the outer panel31of the vehicle door3. Accordingly, the decoration member5can also be used as the door handle4. The coupling portion522of the decoration member5is placed in the opening312of the outer panel31, the bracket9is coupled to the coupling portion522from a back side of the outer panel31, and the outer panel31is held between the bracket9and the decoration member5. The decoration member5is thus firmly fixed to the outer panel31. Sufficient mounting rigidity of the decoration member5to the outer panel31(i.e., the vehicle door3) is thus provided even if the decoration member5is narrow and cannot be fixed at many points to the outer panel31by fixing parts such as bolts and nuts.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, the decoration member5may have a decoration member body51and a housing52mounted on a back side of the decoration member body51and supporting the door handle4. The housing52may have a back-side case portion521fixed to a back surface of the decoration member5, and an accommodating recess formed so as to be recessed from a front side toward a back side of the back-side case portion521and accommodating the door handle4. The accommodating recess522may project from the back side of the back-side case portion521to form the coupling portion522.

With this configuration, the accommodating recess522of the decoration member5in which the door handle4is placed also serves as the coupling portion522. Accordingly, the coupling portion522need not be provided separately, whereby reduction in size of the decoration member5is achieved.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, an outer peripheral edge (e.g., the outer peripheral wall5212) of the decoration member5may be placed on the front side of the outer panel31. The bracket9may have a holding portion92that is placed over the outer peripheral edge of the decoration member5from the back side of the outer panel31. The outer panel31may be held between the outer peripheral edge of the decoration member5and the holding portion92of the bracket9.

With this configuration, the outer peripheral edge of the decoration member5together with the bracket9holds the outer panel31therebetween. The outer panel31is thus stably held between the decoration member5and the bracket9. Since the outer peripheral edge of the decoration member5is used to hold the outer panel31, a relatively large region of the outer panel31can be held. The outer panel31is thus stably held between the decoration member5and the bracket9.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, the outer panel31may have in its surface a stepped recessed portion311on which the decoration member5is mounted. A stepped peripheral wall311bof the stepped recessed portion311may be tilted outward in a radial direction. The outer peripheral edge (e.g., the outer peripheral wall5212) of the decoration member5may be placed on a front side of the stepped peripheral wall311bof the stepped recessed portion311. The holding portion92of the bracket9may be placed on a back side of the stepped peripheral wall311bof the stepped recessed portion311.

With this configuration, the stepped peripheral wall311bof the stepped recessed portion311for mounting the decoration member5, which is tilted outward in the radial direction, is used as a portion that is held between the decoration member5and the bracket9. Accordingly, a relatively large region of the outer panel31can be used as the portion that is held between the decoration member5and the bracket9. Since the stepped peripheral wall311bused as the portion that is held between the decoration member5and the bracket9is tilted outward, the position of the portion that is held between the decoration member5and the bracket9is restrained from being displaced in the direction of a main surface of the outer panel31.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, the coupling portion522of the decoration member5may be inserted through the opening312and project beyond the back side of the outer panel31. The bracket may have a cover portion91coupled to the coupling portion522so as to cover the coupling portion522, the holding portion92formed at an outer peripheral edge of the cover portion91, and a reinforcing rib93formed in a recessed corner that is formed in the cover portion91and the holding portion92.

With this configuration, the reinforcing rib93is formed in the recessed corner that is formed in the cover portion91and the holding portion92of the bracket9. This improves rigidity of the holding portion92of the bracket9. The outer panel31is thus firmly fixed between the bracket9and the decoration member5.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, the bracket9may have a drain groove92ain its inner peripheral surface. The drain groove92amay extend in both the cover portion91and the holding portion92, open in a tip end of the holding portion92, and project toward outside of the bracket9to form the reinforcing rib93.

With this configuration, since the bracket9has the drain groove92ain its inner peripheral surface, water (e.g., water drops) having entered the bracket9is effectively drained to the outside of the bracket9. Since the drain groove92aforms the reinforcing rib93, the drain groove92acan also be used as the reinforcing rib93.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, the bracket9may be placed over the decoration member5other than a part of the decoration member5(e.g., the upper half of the decoration member5) which is mounted on the outer panel31.

With this configuration, the bracket9is placed over the decoration member5(e.g., the lower half of the decoration member5) other than the part of the decoration member5(e.g., the upper half of the decoration member5) which is mounted on the outer panel31. Accordingly, the portion of the outer panel31which is held between the bracket9and the decoration member5does not overlap the part of the decoration member5which is mounted on the outer panel31. This allows the entire decoration member5to have uniform mounting rigidity on the outer panel31. Since the bracket9is not placed on the entire back side of the decoration member5, reduction in size of the bracket9is achieved.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, the decoration member5may be a mascot having substantially the same lateral width as (more specifically, slightly larger than) that of the door handle4, and the door handle may have an electric door switch.

With this configuration, the mascot (i.e., a relatively narrow decoration member5) can be fixed with high rigidity to the outer panel31. Moreover, the door handle4has an electric door switch, which contributes to reduction in size of the mascot.

The present disclosure is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment and can be carried out in various forms.