Vehicle door lock device

A vehicle door lock device includes a housing including: an outer housing body including a covering portion covering an outer side of an electric motor and an outer side of a worm, an outer shaft-supporting portion supporting an active lever, and an outer shaft-supporting portion supporting a worm wheel; and an inner housing body including an inner shaft-supporting portion supporting an active lever, and an inner shaft-supporting portion supporting the worm wheel. An outer surface of the covering portion of the outer housing body and an outer surface of the outer shaft-supporting portion, which is provided in the outer housing body, for supporting the active lever, are formed in the same flat surface, and an outer surface of the outer shaft-supporting portion, which is provided in the outer housing body, for supporting the worm wheel, is formed in a dented surface dented inwardly with respect to the flat surface.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a vehicle door lock device, and more particularly, to a vehicle door lock device including: a latch mechanism, which is capable of maintaining a door of a vehicle in a closed state with respect to a body, and is assembled to the door together with a housing; an open lever, which is rotatably assembled to the housing, and is driven along with an operation of a door handle provided on an inner side or an outer side of the door; an open link, which is interposed between the open lever and a lift lever provided to the latch mechanism, and is switchable between an unlocked position at which an actuation of the open lever in a door opening direction along with a door opening operation of the door handle is transferred to the lift lever, and a locked position at which the actuation is not transferred to the lift lever; and an electric actuator for switching the open link between the unlocked position and the locked position.

BACKGROUND ART

The vehicle door lock device of this type is disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1 or 2 below. In the vehicle door lock device described in Patent Document 1 or 2 below, the electric actuator includes: an active lever, which is rotatably assembled to the housing, and is capable of switching the open link between the unlocked position and the locked position; a gear unit arranged on an outer side of the active lever; an electric motor for rotationally driving the gear unit; and a converting mechanism provided between the active lever and the gear unit, for converting motion of the gear unit into motion of the active lever, and the gear unit includes: a worm, which is rotationally driven by the electric motor; and a worm wheel, which is rotatably assembled to the housing to mesh with the worm, and is linked to the active lever through the intermediation of the converting mechanism.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT

Patent Document

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Technical Problems

By the way, in the vehicle door lock device described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, the housing includes an outer housing body and an inner housing body, and an outer surface of the outer housing body, apart from a portion of the outer surface accommodating a part of the electric motor (protruded surface situated at an oblique upper portion of the outer surface in side view and protruded outwardly in plan view), is formed into a flat surface (general surface). Accordingly, when the device is assembled to the door of the vehicle, a worker can hold a center portion of the outer housing body and a center portion of the inner housing body in his/her hand.

However, in the vehicle door lock device described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, when a worker holds the device (which is normally carried from the inner side of the door into an inside of the door, and then is assembled to the door) in the hand, a thumb of the hand is put on an inner surface of the inner housing body of the housing, and an index finger, a middle finger, etc. of the hand are put on the flat surface (general surface) in the outer surface of the outer housing body of the housing. As a result, slip may occur on the flat surface (general surface) in the outer surface of the outer housing body on which the index finger, the middle finger, etc. of the hand are put. Accordingly, a rib or a textured shape (concavo-convex shape) for preventing slip is sometimes additionally formed in the flat surface (general surface) in the outer surface of the outer housing body on which the index finger, the middle finger, etc. of the hand are put.

Further, in the vehicle door lock device described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 or 2, a direction of a rotation axis of the open link is the same as a direction of a rotation axis of the active lever and the worm wheel that are provided to be rotated about the rotation axis different from the rotation axis of the open link, and hence it is difficult to arrange the active lever and the worm wheel close to the latch mechanism. Accordingly, the housing tends to be increased in size in an extending direction (for example, up-and-down direction) of a surface on which the electric actuator is disposed.

Solution to Problems

The present invention has been made to solve the problems described above. A vehicle door lock device according to the present invention includes: a latch mechanism, which is capable of maintaining a door of a vehicle in a closed state with respect to a body, and is adapted to be assembled to the door together with a housing; an open lever, which is rotatably assembled to the housing, and is adapted to be driven along with an operation of a door handle provided on an inner side or an outer side of the door; an open link, which is interposed between the open lever and a lift lever provided to the latch mechanism, and is adapted to be switchable between an unlocked position at which an actuation of the open lever in a door opening direction along with a door opening operation of the door handle is transferred to the lift lever, and a locked position at which the actuation is not transferred to the lift lever; and an electric actuator for switching the open link between the unlocked position and the locked position, in which the electric actuator includes: an active lever, which is rotatably assembled to the housing, and is capable of switching the open link between the unlocked position and the locked position; a gear unit arranged on an outer side of the active lever; an electric motor for rotationally driving the gear unit; and a converting mechanism provided between the active lever and the gear unit, for converting motion of the gear unit into motion of the active lever, in which the gear unit includes: a worm, which is rotationally driven by the electric motor; and a worm wheel, which is rotatably assembled to the housing to mesh with the worm, and is linked to the active lever through the intermediation of the converting mechanism, in which the open link is arranged so as to be pivotable with respect to the housing about a rotation axis whose direction is different from a direction of a rotation axis of the active lever and the worm wheel, in which the worm wheel is arranged between the latch mechanism and the electric motor, in which the housing includes: an outer housing body including a covering portion covering an outer side of the electric motor and an outer side of the worm, an outer shaft-supporting portion supporting the active lever, and an outer shaft-supporting portion supporting the worm wheel; and an inner housing body including an inner shaft-supporting portion supporting the active lever, and an inner shaft-supporting portion supporting the worm wheel, in which an outer surface of the covering portion of the outer housing body and an outer surface of the outer shaft-supporting portion, which is provided in the outer housing body, for supporting the active lever, are formed in the same flat surface, and in which an outer surface of the outer shaft-supporting portion, which is provided in the outer housing body, for supporting the worm wheel, is formed in a dented surface dented inwardly with respect to the flat surface.

In this case, the vehicle door lock device may further include a locking control lever provided within the housing between the latch mechanism and the electric motor so as to extend in an up-and-down direction, the locking control lever having an upper end portion rotatably supported onto the housing and linked to a key cylinder provided on the outer side of the door, and having a lower end portion linked to the active lever, and an outer surface of an outer shaft-supporting portion, which is provided in the outer housing body, for supporting the locking control lever, may be level and continuous with the dented surface. In these cases, it is preferred that the dented surface be formed into a shape elongated in the up-and-down direction. Further, the latch mechanism and the electric motor may be arranged at the same level with respect to the housing. The same level means that, under a state in which the vehicle door lock device is assembled to the door, the electric motor is arranged so as to overlap a plane of the latch mechanism projected along a fore-and-aft direction of the door.

When carrying out the present invention described above, the open lever may include: an inside open lever, which is rotatably assembled to the housing, and is adapted to be rotationally driven from an initial position to an actuation position along with a door opening operation of an inside door handle provided on the inner side of the door; and an outside open lever, which is rotatably assembled to the housing, and is adapted to be rotationally driven from an initial position to an actuation position along with a door opening operation of an outside door handle provided on the outer side of the door, the open link may be assembled to a coupling portion so as to be capable of tilting by a predetermined degree, may include a pushing portion engageable with an engagement portion of the lift lever provided to the latch mechanism, and may be pushed from an initial position toward the lift lever when the inside open lever is rotationally driven from the initial position to the actuation position or when the outside open lever is rotationally driven from the initial position to the actuation position, the coupling portion being displaced along with rotation of the outside open lever, the active lever may be rotatably assembled to the housing, and may be switched from an unlocked position to a locked position through a locking operation of a lock/unlock operation member to bring the open link into a locked state, and switched from the locked position to the unlocked position through an unlocking operation of the lock/unlock operation member to bring the open link into an unlocked state, and the vehicle door lock device may further include: a spring interposed between the outside open lever and the open link, for biasing the open link so that the open link is brought into the unlocked state, and for retaining the open link movable relative to the lift lever so as to permit the open link to return to the initial position; an unlocked state maintaining guide for maintaining the open link in the unlocked state when the active lever is at the unlocked position and the outside open lever is rotated between the initial position and the actuation position; a locked state maintaining guide for maintaining the open link in the locked state when the active lever is at the locked position and the outside open lever is rotated between the initial position and the actuation position; and a push arm portion provided to the active lever, the push arm portion being engaged with the open link in the unlocked state so as to tilt the open link through switching the active lever from the unlocked position to the locked position when the active lever is at the unlocked position, and being disengageable from the open link in the locked state so as to permit the open link to shift to the unlocked state.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the vehicle door lock device of the present invention, the open link is arranged so as to be pivotable with respect to the housing about the rotation axis whose direction is different from the direction of the rotation axis of the active lever and the worm wheel. Thus, the active lever and the worm wheel can be arranged close to the latch mechanism, and hence increase in size of the housing can be prevented. In addition, it is not necessary that the open link be arranged so as to overlap the worm wheel and the active lever in the direction of the rotation axis of the active lever. Thus, for example, in a portion of the outer housing body of the housing in which the worm wheel is arranged (that is, portion in which the open link is not arranged), it is possible to form the dented surface dented inwardly with respect to the flat surface of the outer housing body (that is, general surface in which the outer surface of the covering portion covering the outer side of the electric motor and the outer side of the worm, and the outer surface of the outer shaft-supporting portion supporting the active lever are formed at the same level).

Further, the dented surface dented inwardly with respect to the above-mentioned flat surface (general surface) is formed in the portion of the outer housing body of the housing in which the worm wheel is arranged. With this configuration, a worker can hold the portion of the housing, in which the worm wheel is arranged, in his/her hand in the following manner. Specifically, a thumb of the hand is put on an inner surface of the inner housing body, and an index finger, a middle finger, etc. of the hand are put on the dented surface formed in the outer surface of the outer housing body. At this time, a step formed between the flat surface (general surface) and the dented surface in the outer housing body of the housing can be used to prevent slip of the index finger, the middle finger, etc. of the hand, and hence a rib or a textured shape (concavo-convex shape) for preventing slip does not need to be additionally formed in the outer housing body of the housing.

Accordingly, when the device is assembled to the door of the vehicle while the device is held by a worker in the hand, the portion of the device to be held in the hand is less likely to cause slip, and hence is easily held in the hand. Therefore, it is possible to achieve satisfactory workability when the device is assembled to the door. Further, in the device, the rib or the textured shape (concavo-convex shape) for preventing slip does not need to be additionally formed in the outer housing body of the housing, and hence it is also possible to reduce cost.

Further, according to the vehicle door lock device of the present invention, the outer surface of the outer shaft-supporting portion, which is provided in the outer housing body, for supporting the worm wheel, is formed in the dented surface dented inwardly with respect to the flat surface. Thus, when compared to a case where the outer surface of the outer shaft-supporting portion, which is provided in the outer housing body, for supporting the worm wheel, is formed at the same level as that of the flat surface, it is possible to reduce an axial length of the outer shaft-supporting portion provided in the outer housing body, for rotatably supporting the worm wheel, and hence it is possible to increase manufacturing accuracy of the outer shaft-supporting portion. Accordingly, it is possible to increase accuracy of assembly of the worm wheel to the housing, and to increase meshing accuracy between the worm and the worm wheel.

Further, when carrying out the present invention described above, in the case where the locking control lever is provided within the housing between the latch mechanism and the electric motor so as to extend in the up-and-down direction, and the locking control lever has the upper end portion rotatably supported onto the housing and linked to the key cylinder provided on the outer side of the door, and has the lower end portion linked to the active lever, and in the case where the outer surface of the outer shaft-supporting portion, which is provided in the outer housing body, for supporting the locking control lever, is level and continuous with the dented surface, a length of the dented surface in the up-and-down direction enables all of the index finger, the middle finger, a ring finger, a little finger, etc. of the hand to be easily put onto the dented surface, and hence the device can be appropriately held in the five fingers of the hand.

Further, when carrying out the present invention described above, in the case where the latch mechanism and the electric motor are arranged at the same level with respect to the housing, and the worm wheel is arranged between the latch mechanism and the electric motor, the latch mechanism and the electric motor (both are parts having large weight) are dispersed and arranged in a balanced manner with respect to the housing. Accordingly, the device has a good weight balance with respect to a portion to be held in the hand (center portion of the housing in which the worm wheel is arranged), and hence the device can be held in a stable state.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In the following, an embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to the drawings.FIGS. 1 to 17illustrate a vehicle door lock device100according to the present invention. The vehicle door lock device100is mounted to a door201which is installed on a front right side of a vehicle (seeFIG. 17). The vehicle door lock device100includes a latch mechanism10, an inside open lever21, and an outside open lever22, and further includes an open link23, a spring24, and an active lever25. The vehicle door lock device100further includes an unlocked state maintaining guide92aprovided to an inner housing body92of a housing90, and a locked state maintaining guide25aand a push arm portion25cprovided to the active lever25.

As is well known, the latch mechanism10is configured to maintain the door201in a closed state with respect to a body202(vehicle body illustrated inFIG. 17), and is assembled to the housing90including an outer housing body91and the inner housing body92, that is, assembled to the door201together with the housing90. The latch mechanism10includes: a latch11(seeFIGS. 2 and 3) rotatably assembled to a support shaft12and engageable with and disengageable from a striker203which is fixed to the vehicle body202; a pawl13(whose rotation shaft portion is illustrated inFIGS. 2,6, etc.) which is engageable with and disengageable from the latch11and is capable of maintaining and releasing the engagement of the latch11with the striker203; and a lift lever14(seeFIGS. 4 to 10) provided integrally with the pawl13.

As illustrated inFIG. 6, the lift lever14is assembled integrally to the rotation shaft portion of the pawl13through a fitting hole14athereof, and rotates integrally with the pawl13. The lift lever14includes an engagement arm portion14bengageable with and disengageable from a push head portion23aof the open link23, and further includes a push leg portion14cengageable with and disengageable from a receiving body portion23bof the open link23. A main portion of the lift lever14(portion of the lift lever14which is fitted to the rotation shaft portion of the pawl13) rotates in a plane substantially parallel to the drawing sheet ofFIG. 6.

In the above-mentioned latch mechanism10, when the latch11engages with the striker203and their engagement is maintained, the door201is maintained in a closed state (latched state). Further, in the latch mechanism10, when the latch11disengages and separates from the striker203, the door201shifts from the closed state to an opened state (unlatched state).

The inside open lever21is rotationally driveable from an initial position (return position illustrated inFIGS. 4,5, and8) to an actuation position (position ofFIG. 11shifted from the return position illustrated inFIGS. 4,5, and8in a clockwise direction by a predetermined angle of rotation) along with a door opening operation of an inside door handle204(seeFIG. 17) which is provided on an inner side of the door201. As illustrated inFIGS. 4,5, and8, the inside open lever21is rotatably assembled to the housing90through the intermediation of a support shaft93at a support hole21a. The inside open lever21includes: an operation arm portion21blinked to the inside door handle204through the intermediation of an operation cable W1illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 3(operating force transferring member such as a link may be used instead); a first push arm portion21cengageable with and disengageable from an engagement arm portion22dof the outside open lever22; and a second push arm portion21dengageable with and disengageable from a receiving portion25bof the active lever25.

The outside open lever22is rotationally driveable from an initial position (return position illustrated inFIGS. 6 and 9) to an actuation position (position illustrated inFIGS. 7 and 10) along with a door opening operation of an outside door handle205(seeFIG. 17) which is provided on an outer side of the door201, and is rotatably assembled to the housing90through the intermediation of a support shaft94at a support hole22aarranged substantially orthogonal to the support hole21a of the inside open lever21. The outside open lever22includes: an operation portion22blinked to the outside door handle205through the intermediation of an operation force transferring member (not shown) such as a link; a coupling hole portion (coupling portion)22ccoupled to the open link23; and the engagement arm portion22dengageable with and disengageable from the first push arm portion21cof the inside open lever21. Note that, the outside open lever22is biased by an outside open lever spring (not shown) toward the initial position.

The open link23includes the push head portion23aand the receiving body portion23bmentioned above, and further includes a coupling leg portion23cand a support portion23d(seeFIGS. 4 and 5). The open link23is assembled into the coupling hole portion (coupling portion)22cof the outside open lever22at the coupling leg portion23cso as to be capable of tilting by a predetermined degree in a right-and-left direction ofFIG. 6(that is, the open link23is arranged so as to be pivotable with respect to the housing90about a rotation axis whose direction is different from a direction of a rotation axis of the active lever25(about the coupling hole portion22c)). The open link23supports the spring24at the support portion23d. A main portion (push head portion23a, receiving body portion23b, and the like) of the open link23is tilted in a plane substantially parallel to the drawing sheet ofFIG. 6, and this plane is disposed in parallel to a plane in which a main portion of the lift lever14rotates. Further, the open link23includes: an engagement leg portion23eengageable with and disengageable from a push arm portion25cof the active lever25; an engagement arm portion23fengageable with and disengageable from the unlocked state maintaining guide92aof the housing90; and an engagement body portion23gengageable with and disengageable from the locked state maintaining guide25a(seeFIGS. 9 and 10) of the active lever25.

When the inside open lever21is rotationally driven from the initial position to the actuation position or when the outside open lever22is rotationally driven from the initial position to the actuation position, the open link23is pushed from the initial position illustrated inFIG. 6toward the lift lever14, and is moved to an actuation position illustrated inFIG. 7. Further, when the active lever25moves from a locked position (position illustrated inFIG. 8) to an unlocked position (position illustrated inFIGS. 4and5), the open link23is switchable to an unlocked state (state illustrated inFIG. 6), and when the active lever25moves from the unlocked position to the locked position, the open link23is switchable to a locked state (state illustrated inFIG. 9).

Note that, when the open link23is held in the unlocked state, as illustrated inFIGS. 6 and 7, door opening actuations of the open levers21and22along with the door opening operations of the door handles204and205are transferred to the lift lever14via the open link23, respectively. On the other hand, when the open link23is held in the locked state, as illustrated inFIGS. 9 and 10, the door opening actuations of the open levers21and22along with the door opening operations of the door handles204and205are transferred to the open link23, but are not transferred from the open link23to the lift lever14.

The spring24is interposed between the outside open lever22and the open link23, and biases the open link23relative to the outside open lever22so that the open link23is brought into the unlocked state (state illustrated inFIG. 6). Further, the spring24includes: a coil portion24aassembled to the support portion23dof the open link23; and a pair of arm portions24band24cextending radially outward from end portions of the coil portion24a. The arm portion24bon one side engages with the outside open lever22, and the arm portion24con the other side engages with the open link23.

Thus, in the door-locked state (state in which the door is locked), when the door handles204,205illustrated inFIG. 17and a lock/unlock operation member (lock knob206provided on the inner side of the door201, key cylinder207capable of being operated from the outer side of the door201, remote control device for actuating an electric motor31of an electric driving mechanism30, or the like) are operated simultaneously and thus the vehicle door lock device100is brought into a panic state (seeFIG. 12), owing to the function of the spring24, the open link23is biased so that the open link23is brought into the unlocked state, and is retained elastically and relatively movable to the engagement arm portion14bof the lift lever14. In this manner, the open link23is permitted to return to the initial position illustrated inFIG. 6.

Through a locking operation of the lock/unlock operation member, the active lever25is switched from the unlocked position illustrated inFIGS. 4 and 5to the locked position illustrated inFIG. 8so as to bring the open link23into the locked state. Further, through an unlocking operation of the lock/unlock operation member, the active lever25is switched from the locked position to the unlocked position so as to bring the open link23into the unlocked state. The active lever25is rotatably assembled to the housing90through the intermediation of a support shaft95at a support hole25dformed in a boss portion of the active lever25.

The active lever25includes the locked state maintaining guide25a, the receiving portion25b, the push arm portion25c, and the support hole25dmentioned above. The active lever25further includes: an operation portion25ecoupled through the intermediation of an operation cable W2illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 3to the lock knob206provided on the inner side of the door201; a driving portion25flinked to the electric driving mechanism30; an engagement pin portion25g(seeFIG. 5) linked to a positioning spring26; and an engagement pin portion25hlinked through the intermediation of a locking control lever41, a key switch lever42, an outside locking lever43, and the like to the key cylinder207provided on the outer side of the door201. Note that, the active lever25is retained at the unlocked position or the locked position by the positioning spring26which is assembled within the housing90and engaged with the engagement pin portion25g(seeFIG. 5) provided to the active lever25.

When the active lever25is at the unlocked position illustrated inFIGS. 5 and 6and the open link23is in the unlocked state, the push arm portion25cis engaged with the engagement leg portion23eof the open link23so as to tilt the open link23through switching of the active lever25from the unlocked position (position illustrated inFIG. 6) to the locked position (position illustrated inFIG. 9). On the other hand, when the active lever25is at the locked position illustrated inFIGS. 8 and 9and the open link23is in the locked state, the push arm portion25ccan be disengaged from the open link23so as to permit the open link23to shift to the unlocked state.

The electric driving mechanism30drives the active lever25between the locked position and the unlocked position, and includes the electric motor31, a worm32, and a worm wheel33. Together with the active lever25, the electric driving mechanism30forms an electric actuator for switching the open link23between the unlocked position and the locked position described above.

The electric motor31is a publicly-known motor to be driven in accordance with the lock operation and the unlock operation of the lock/unlock operation member such as the remote control device. The worm32forms a gear unit together with the worm wheel33. The worm32is provided integrally with an output shaft31aof the electric motor31, and is rotationally driven by the electric motor31. The worm wheel33is arranged on the outer side of the active lever25(on the outer housing body91side), and is rotatably assembled to the housing90through the intermediation of a support shaft96(seeFIG. 4). The worm wheel33is always meshed with the worm32, and includes a pair of cams33a,33bwhich are linked to a pair of cam followers (illustrated by broken lines inFIG. 5, though detailed description thereof is omitted) provided to the driving portion25fof the active lever25.

The respective cams33a,33bare rotatably assembled to the inner side of the worm wheel33(active lever25side), and form a converting mechanism (cam mechanism) together with the respective cam followers provided on a wall surface of the driving portion25fof the active lever25on the worm wheel33side. The converting mechanism is provided between the active lever25and the gear unit including the worm32and the worm wheel33, and converts rotation of the worm wheel33(that is, motion of the gear unit) into tilting of the active lever25.

Accordingly, in the electric driving mechanism30, when the active lever25is at the unlocked position illustrated inFIGS. 4 and 5and the locking operation is performed on the lock/unlock operation member (for example, remote control device for actuating the electric motor31), the worm wheel33is rotationally driven by 180 degrees in a counterclockwise direction by the electric motor31through the intermediation of the worm32, to thereby move (tilt) the active lever25to the locked position illustrated inFIG. 8. Further, when the active lever25is at the locked position illustrated inFIG. 8and the unlocking operation is performed on the lock/unlock operation member, the worm wheel33is rotationally driven by 180 degrees in the clockwise direction by the electric motor31through the intermediation of the worm32, to thereby move (tilt) the active lever25to the unlocked position illustrated inFIGS. 4 and 5.

Further, in this embodiment, as illustrated inFIGS. 5,6, and7, the unlocked state maintaining guide92aprovided to the inner housing body92of the housing90maintains the open link23, which is disengaged from the push arm portion25cof the active lever25, in the unlocked state when the active lever25is at the unlocked position and the outside open lever22is rotated between the initial position and the actuation position. When the unlocked state maintaining guide92amaintains the open link23in the unlocked state, as illustrated inFIG. 7, the engagement arm portion23fof the open link23is slideably engaged with the unlocked state maintaining guide92a. Note that, a shape of a guide surface (surface on which the engagement arm portion23fis slideably engaged) of the unlocked state maintaining guide92ais set in consideration of a trajectory of movement of an engagement portion between the engagement arm portion14bof the lift lever14and the push head portion23aof the open link23. It is desired that the shape of the guide surface be set so as to prevent occurrence of slip on the above-mentioned engagement portion.

On the other hand, as illustrated inFIGS. 8,9, and10, the locked state maintaining guide25aof the active lever25maintains the open link23, which is disengaged from the push arm portion25cof the active lever25, in the locked state when the active lever25is at the locked position and the outside open lever22is rotated between the initial position and the actuation position. When the locked state maintaining guide25amaintains the open link23in the locked state, as illustrated inFIG. 10, the engagement body portion23gof the open link23is slideably engaged with the locked state maintaining guide25a.

Further, in this embodiment, as illustrated inFIG. 9, the lift lever14is arranged in such a manner that the push leg portion14cthereof can push the receiving body portion23bof the open link23when the door201in an opened state is closed under a state in which the active lever25is at the locked position and the outside open lever22is at the initial position (at this time, as is well known, the rotation shaft portion of the pawl13is temporarily rotated by a predetermined degree in the clockwise direction ofFIG. 9integrally with the lift lever14). Further, as illustrated inFIG. 8, the inside open lever21is arranged in such a manner that the second push arm portion21dthereof can push the receiving portion25bof the active lever25when the inside door handle204is operated to open the door under a state in which the active lever25is at the locked position and the inside open lever21is at the initial position.

Further, in this embodiment, when the inside door handle204is operated to open the door, a timing at which the second push arm portion21dof the inside open lever21is engaged with the receiving portion25bof the active lever25is set earlier by a predetermined period of time than a timing at which the first push arm portion21cof the inside open lever21is engaged with the engagement arm portion22dof the outside open lever22. With this setting, a so-called one-motion function can be obtained.

By the way, in this embodiment, the open link23is arranged so as to be pivotable with respect to the housing90about a rotation axis (about the coupling hole portion22c) whose direction is different from the direction (direction orthogonal to the drawing sheet ofFIG. 4) of the rotation axis of the active lever25and the worm wheel33. Further, the latch mechanism10and the electric motor31are arranged at the same level (the same height level) with respect to the housing90, and the worm wheel33is arranged below and between the latch mechanism10and the electric motor31. Further, the housing10includes: the outer housing body91(seeFIGS. 1 and 15) including a covering portion91a covering the outer sides of the electric motor31, the worm32, etc., an outer shaft-supporting portion91bsupporting the active lever25, and an outer shaft-supporting portion91csupporting the worm wheel33; and the inner housing body92(seeFIG. 3) including an inner shaft-supporting portion92bsupporting the active lever25, and an inner shaft-supporting portion92csupporting the worm wheel33. The above-mentioned same level means that, under a state in which the vehicle door lock device100is assembled to the door201, the electric motor31is arranged so as to overlap a plane of the latch mechanism10projected along a fore-and-aft direction of the door201(seeFIGS. 2 and 5).

Further, in this embodiment, as illustrated inFIGS. 1,15, and16, an outer surface of the covering portion91aof the outer housing body91and an outer surface of the outer shaft-supporting portion91b of the outer housing body91are formed in the same flat surface S1, the outer shaft-supporting portion91bsupporting the active lever25. An outer surface of the outer shaft-supporting portion91cof the outer housing body91is formed in a dented surface S2dented inwardly by a predetermined degree with respect to the above-mentioned flat surface S1, the outer shaft-supporting portion91csupporting the worm wheel33. The dented surface S2is formed into a shape elongated in an up-and-down direction.

Further, in this embodiment, the locking control lever41is provided within the housing90, and an outer surface of an outer shaft-supporting portion91d, which is provided in the outer housing body91, for supporting the locking control lever41, is level and continuous with the above-mentioned dented surface S2.

Accordingly, in the vehicle door lock device100according to the above-mentioned embodiment, the active lever25and the worm wheel33can be arranged close to the latch mechanism10, and hence increase in size of the housing90can be prevented. In addition, it is not necessary that the open link23be arranged so as to overlap the worm wheel33and the active lever25in the direction of the rotation axis of the active lever25. Thus, in a portion of the outer housing body91of the housing90in which the worm wheel33is arranged (that is, portion in which the open link23is not arranged), it is possible to form the dented surface S2dented inwardly with respect to the flat surface S1of the outer housing body91(that is, general surface in which the outer surface of the covering portion91acovering the outer sides of the electric motor31and the worm32, and the outer surface of the outer shaft-supporting portion91bsupporting the active lever25are formed at the same level).

Further, the latch mechanism10and the electric motor31(which are made of a considerable amount of a metal material, and both are parts having large weight) are dispersed and arranged in a balanced manner with respect to the housing90along the right-and-left direction ofFIGS. 1 and 15(vehicle fore-and-aft direction of the door). Accordingly, the device100has a good weight balance with respect to a portion to be held in a hand Ho (center portion of the housing90in which the worm wheel33is arranged), and hence the device100can be held in a stable state. Further, as illustrated inFIGS. 15 and 16, the dented surface S2, which is dented inwardly with respect to the flat surface S1and formed into a shape elongated in the up-and-down direction, is formed in the portion of the outer housing body91of the housing90in which the worm wheel33is arranged. Thus, a worker can hold the portion of the housing90, in which the worm wheel33is arranged, in the hand Ho in the following manner. Specifically, a thumb H1of the hand Ho is put on an inner surface of the inner housing body92, and an index finger H2, a middle finger H3, etc. of the hand Ho are put on the dented surface S2formed in the outer surface of the outer housing body91. At this time, a step S3formed between the flat surface S1and the dented surface S2in the outer housing body91of the housing90can be used to prevent slip of the index finger H2, the middle finger H3, etc. of the hand Ho, and hence a rib or a textured shape (concavo-convex shape) for preventing slip does not need to be additionally formed in the outer housing body91of the housing90.

Accordingly, when the vehicle door lock device100is assembled to the door201of the vehicle while the vehicle door lock device100is held by a worker in the hand Ho, the portion of the device100to be held in the hand Ho is less likely to cause slip, and hence is easily held in the hand Ho. Therefore, it is possible to achieve satisfactory workability when the device100is assembled to the door201(workability when a worker holds the device100in the hand Ho, and assembles the device100to the door201while carrying the device100from the inner side of the door201into an inside of the door). Further, in the device100, the rib or the textured shape (concavo-convex shape) for preventing slip does not need to be additionally formed in the outer housing body91of the housing90, and hence it is also possible to reduce cost.

Further, in this embodiment, the outer surface of the outer shaft-supporting portion91c, which is provided in the outer housing body91, for supporting the worm wheel33, is formed in the dented surface S2dented inwardly with respect to the flat surface S1. Thus, when compared to a case where the outer surface of the outer shaft-supporting portion, which is provided in the outer housing body, for supporting the worm wheel, is formed at the same level as that of the flat surface S1, it is possible to reduce an axial length of the outer shaft-supporting portion91cprovided in the outer housing body91, for rotatably supporting the worm wheel33, and hence it is possible to increase manufacturing accuracy of the outer shaft-supporting portion91c. Accordingly, it is possible to increase accuracy of assembly of the worm wheel33to the housing90, and to increase meshing accuracy between the worm32and the worm wheel33.

Further, in this embodiment, the outer surface of the outer shaft-supporting portion91d, which is provided in the outer housing body91, for supporting the locking control lever41, is level and continuous with the above-mentioned dented surface S2. Thus, a length of the dented surface S2in the up-and-down direction enables all of the index finger H2, the middle finger H3, a ring finger H4, a little finger H5, etc. of the hand Ho to be easily put onto the dented surface S2, and hence the device100can be appropriately held in the five fingers H1to H5of the hand Ho.

Note that, in the vehicle door lock device100according to this embodiment configured as described above, each component is actuated in the following manner in each case described in the following items: (a) when the inside door handle204is operated to open the door in a door-unlocked state (state in which the door201is unlocked); (b) when the outside door handle205is operated to open the door in the door-unlocked state; (c) when the outside door handle205is operated to open the door in a door-locked state (state in which the door201is locked); (d) when the inside door handle204is operated to open the door in the door-locked state; (e) when the door201in the opened state is brought into the door-locked state, and then the door201is closed without operating the door handles204,205; and (f) when the door201in the opened state is brought into the door-locked state, and then the door201is closed under a state in which the outside door handle205is operated to open the door.

“(a) Actuation when the Inside Door Handle204is Operated to Open the Door in the Door-Unlocked State”

When the vehicle door lock device100is in the door-unlocked state as illustrated inFIGS. 3 to 6under a state in which the door201is closed, the inside open lever21is actuated in the door opening direction (clockwise direction ofFIGS. 4 and 5) along with the door opening operation of the inside door handle204. Then, as illustrated inFIGS. 6 and 7, the open link23in the unlocked state is moved from the initial position (position illustrated inFIG. 6) to the actuation position illustrated inFIG. 7by the outside open lever22pushed by the inside open lever21, and thus the lift lever14is rotated in an unlatching direction (clockwise direction ofFIG. 6). Accordingly, the actuation of the inside open lever21in the door opening direction is transferred to the lift lever14through the intermediation of the outside open lever22and the open link23, with the result that the lift lever14is rotated in the unlatching direction and the latch mechanism10is brought into an unlatched state from a latched state. In this manner, the door201can be opened.

“(b) Actuation when the Outside Door Handle205is Operated to Open the Door in the Door-Unlocked State”

Further, when the vehicle door lock device100is in the unlocked state as illustrated inFIGS. 3 to 6under a state in which the door201is closed, the outside open lever22is actuated in the door opening direction (clockwise direction ofFIG. 6) along with the door opening operation of the outside door handle205. Then, as illustrated inFIGS. 6 and 7, the open link23in the unlocked state is moved from the initial position (position illustrated inFIG. 6) to the actuation position illustrated inFIG. 7by the outside open lever22, and thus the lift lever14is rotated in the unlatching direction. Accordingly, the actuation of the outside open lever22in the door opening direction is transferred to the lift lever14through the intermediation of the open link23, with the result that the lift lever14is rotated in the unlatching direction and the latch mechanism10is brought into the unlatched state from the latched state. In this manner, the door201can be opened.

“(c) Actuation when the Outside Door Handle205is Operated to Open the Door in the Door-Locked State”

Further, when the vehicle door lock device100is in the door-locked state as illustrated inFIGS. 8 and 9under a state in which the door201is closed, the outside open lever22is actuated in the door opening direction along with the door opening operation of the outside door handle205. Then, the open link23in the locked state illustrated inFIG. 9is lifted in the locked state illustrated inFIG. 10while being guided by the locked state maintaining guide25aprovided to the active lever25, and hence is not engaged with the lift lever14. Thus, the actuation of the outside open lever22in the door opening direction is not transferred to the lift lever14, with the result that the lift lever14is not rotated and the latch mechanism10is maintained in the latched state. Therefore, the door201cannot be opened.

“(d) Actuation when the Inside Door Handle204is Operated to Open the Door in the Door-Locked State”

On the other hand, when the vehicle door lock device100is in the door-locked state as illustrated inFIGS. 8 and 9under a state in which the door201is closed, the inside open lever21is actuated in the door opening direction along with the door opening operation of the inside door handle204. Then, the timing at which the second push arm portion21dof the inside open lever21is engaged with the receiving portion25bof the active lever25is earlier by a predetermined period of time than the timing at which the first push arm portion21cof the inside open lever21is engaged with the engagement arm portion22dof the outside open lever22, and hence the open link23in the locked state illustrated inFIG. 9is shifted to the unlocked state illustrated inFIG. 6by the time the first push arm portion21cof the inside open lever21is engaged with the engagement arm portion22dof the outside open lever22. Thus, after that, the same actuation as the actuation described in the item (a) is obtained. In this manner, it is possible to open the door201, and to obtain a so-called one-motion function (function capable of opening the door201in the door-locked state through one-time door opening operation).

“(e) Actuation when the Door201in the Opened State is Brought into the Door-Locked State, and then the Door201is Closed Without Operating the Door Handles204,205”

Further, in this embodiment, the push leg portion14cis provided to the lift lever14of the vehicle door lock device100, and the receiving body portion23bis provided to the open link23. Accordingly, under a state in which the door is opened, when the door is brought into the door-locked state as illustrated inFIGS. 8 and 9through, for example, a locking operation of the lock knob206, and then the door201in this state is closed without operating the door handles204,205, as is well known, the latch11of the latch mechanism10is engaged with the striker (not shown), and the rotation shaft portion of the pawl13is temporarily rotated by a predetermined degree in the clockwise direction ofFIG. 9integrally with the lift lever14and then returned to an original state. Thus, when the door201is closed, the push leg portion14cof the lift lever14illustrated inFIG. 9is actuated to push the receiving body portion23bof the open link23.

With this, the open link23and the push arm portion25cof the active lever25are shifted from the locked state illustrated inFIG. 9to the unlocked state illustrated inFIG. 13, and thus the door-locked state is automatically cancelled. Therefore, at this time, an unlocking actuation is obtained through closing the open door in the door-locked state, and the door-locked state illustrated inFIGS. 8 and 9is shifted to the door-unlocked state illustrated inFIGS. 3 to 6, and13. In this manner, it is possible to prevent so-called key confinement.

“(f) Actuation when the Door201in the Opened State is Brought into the Door-Locked State, and then the Door201is Closed Under a State in Which the Outside Door Handle205is Operated to Open the Door”

The unlocking actuation obtained through the door closing operation described in the item (e) can be cancelled in the following manner. Specifically, under a state in which the door201is opened, after the lock knob206is subjected to the locking operation to be brought into the door-locked state as illustrated inFIGS. 8 and 9, the outside door handle205is operated to open the door, and the door201in this state is closed. In this case, the state illustrated inFIG. 9is shifted to the state illustrated inFIG. 114(at the time of closing the door201, when the rotation shaft portion of the pawl13is temporarily rotated by a predetermined degree integrally with the lift lever14and then returned to the original state, the push leg portion14cof the lift lever14is actuated to fail to strike the open link23). Thus, the open link23is maintained in the locked state, and the active lever25is maintained at the locked position. Accordingly, when the outside door handle205is returned to an original position thereafter, the outside open lever22, the open link23, the spring24, and the like in the state illustrated inFIG. 14are returned to the state illustrated inFIG. 9, and thus the door-locked state is maintained. As a result, keyless lock can be obtained.

Further, in the vehicle door lock device100according to the above-mentioned embodiment, the spring24interposed between the outside open lever22and the open link23biases the open link23so that the open link23is brought into the unlocked state, and retains the open link23movable relative to the lift lever14so as to permit the open link23to return to the initial position. Further, the push arm portion25cof the active lever25is disengageable from the open link23so as to permit the open link23in the locked state to shift to the unlocked state. Accordingly, in the door-locked state (state in which the door201is locked), when the door handles204,205and the lock/unlock operation member are operated simultaneously to cause the panic state, as illustrated inFIG. 12, the open link23is retained movable relative to the lift lever14, and is permitted to return to the initial position. Therefore, even in the above-mentioned panic state, through returning the outside open lever22to the initial position, the open link23is returned to the initial position while being brought into the unlocked state. Thus, it is possible to smoothly perform switching to the door-unlocked state (state in which the door201is unlocked).

Further, in the vehicle door lock device100according to the above-mentioned embodiment, when the panic state occurs as described above, as illustrated inFIG. 12, the spring24interposed between the outside open lever22and the open link23functions in the above-mentioned manner. Thus, it is not necessary to interpose a spring in the active lever25itself, and hence the active lever25can be formed of a single member. Accordingly, components ranging from the active lever25to the open link23can be formed of three components such as the active lever25, the spring24, and the open link23, and hence the vehicle door lock device100can be formed simply at low cost.

Further, in the vehicle door lock device100according to the above-mentioned embodiment, as illustrated inFIG. 6, the push leg portion14cis provided to the lift lever14, and the receiving body portion23bis provided to the open link23. Thus, under a state in which the door201is opened, when the active lever25is switched from the unlocked position to the locked position through the locking operation of the lock/unlock operation member to bring the door into the door-locked state, and then the door201in this state is closed without operating the door handles204,205, the push leg portion14cof the lift lever14is actuated to push the receiving body portion23bof the open link23. Accordingly, with use of this actuation, the open link23can be shifted from the locked state to the unlocked state, and the active lever25can be moved from the locked position to the unlocked position. Therefore, in this case, through closing the open door201in the door-locked state, the door-locked state can be automatically cancelled.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the plane of rotation of the main portion of the lift lever14and the plane of tilting of the main portion of the open link23are arranged in parallel to each other, the push leg portion14cis provided to the lift lever14, and the receiving body portion23bis provided to the open link23. With this configuration, the present invention can be carried out. Further, it is possible to add the above-mentioned canceling function without increasing the number of components. Thus, the present invention can be carried out simply at low cost.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, as illustrated inFIGS. 4 and 5, the second push arm portion21dis provided to the inside open lever21, and the receiving portion25bis provided to the active lever25. Accordingly, when the inside door handle204is operated to open the door under a state in which the door201is closed and the active lever25is at the locked position, the inside open lever21is actuated in the door opening direction, and the second push arm portion21dof the inside open lever21is actuated to push the receiving portion25bof the active lever25. Thus, with use of this actuation, the active lever25can be moved from the locked position to the unlocked position, and the open link23can be shifted from the locked state to the unlocked state. Therefore, in this case, in the closed door201in the door-locked state, the door-locked state can be automatically cancelled through the door opening operation of the inside door handle204. In this manner, a so-called one-motion function can be obtained.

By the way, in this case, the present invention can be carried out with such a configuration that the second push arm portion21dis provided to the inside open lever21and the receiving portion25bis provided to the active lever25, and it is possible to add the above-mentioned one-motion function without increasing the number of components. Thus, the present invention can be carried out simply at low cost.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, when the inside door handle204is operated to open the closed door201in the door-locked state, the timing at which the second push arm portion21dof the inside open lever21is engaged with the receiving portion25bof the active lever25(timing at which the active lever25starts to be driven by the inside open lever21toward the unlocked position) is set earlier by a predetermined period of time than the timing at which the first push arm portion21cof the inside open lever21is engaged with the engagement arm portion22dof the outside open lever22(timing at which the outside open lever22starts to be driven by the inside open lever21toward the actuation position), and thus the one-motion function (lock releasing function provided through a single pulling operation of the inside door handle) is established. In this manner, the present invention is carried out. However, the present invention can be carried out in the following manner. Specifically, the timing at which the active lever25starts to be driven by the inside open lever21toward the unlocked position is set later by a predetermined period of time than the timing at which the outside open lever22starts to be driven by the inside open lever21toward the actuation position, and thus a so-called double pulling function (lock releasing function provided through a double pulling operation of the inside door handle204) is established.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the present invention is carried out so as to achieve the canceling function and the one-motion function described above, but can be carried out without those functions. Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the present invention is applied to the vehicle door lock device100which is installed in the door201mounted on the front right side of the vehicle. However, as a matter of course, the present invention is applicable to a vehicle door lock device which is installed in a door mounted on a front left side of the vehicle. Further, in a similar way or through appropriate modifications, the present invention is also applicable to a vehicle door lock device which is installed in a door mounted on a rear right side or a rear left side of the vehicle.